THE ANALYSIS OF BIOLOGICAL TIME-SERIES DATA - SOME PRELIMINARY CONSIDERATIONS

The relative merits of various techniques employed in the analysis of biological rhythms are considered, with regard to four rhythm characteristics: period, phase, amplitude and wave-form. The effects of different recording techniques and sampling frequencies on the nature, and subsequent analysis of the data collected are discussed, and the various methods currently employed in the presentation and visualisation of the data are considered. The distinction between descriptive and predictive analysis is emphasised, and the advantages of removing high frequency components and long term trends from the data series prior to further analysis are discussed. Cosinor analysis is considered as an example of a descriptive method. The assumptions on which it is based are indicated, and some guidelines for it's application are suggested.