The journal publishes primary reports, reviews, commentaries, or letters.

The journal is the official publication of the Society for Research on Biological Rhythms.

The journal was established in March 1986 as the official publication of the Society for Research on Biological Rhythms with Benjamin Rusak as first editor-in-chief; he served from 1986 to 1994.

The first issue largely focused on zoology and physiology, but over the years the field of discussion has expanded to include neurobiology, cell and molecular biology, photobiology, computational biology, behavioral ecology, and translational medicine.

[1] Early research topics included "splitting", circannual rhythmicity, photoperiodic time measurement, and circadian pacemaker development, coupling, and output.