Theory 15/Circadian oscillator/Termination phase
Rhythm Dies by Damping
The claim
A rhythm is lost when the ratio of coupling strength to noise falls below one, so desynchrony precedes any change in mean level.
01Mechanism
Oscillators damp when perturbation exceeds restoring force; the ratio determines persistence.
02Prediction
Amplitude should fall before the mean changes.
03Refutation
Loss of rhythm with constant amplitude would remove damping.