Feedback Systems

Did you know that your body has switches that can either be turned on or turned off based on internal and external stimuli? The human body possesses two feedback systems that respond to stimuli, they are negative and positive feedback systems. These two systems are driven by hormonal regulation when there is a desire to elicit a response. It is these two systems that work to maintain a balanced internal environment. 

The negative feedback system operates similar to a HVAC unit; meaning that it will respond only when needed to bring the internal environment back into balance. When the body experiences extreme changes in temperature, hormones will be released to get the body back to its regular temperature. While the hormones ae being released the body will also physiologically respond, for example when your body gets cold it will begin to shiver to warm itself. Whereas when your body gets too hot, it will sweat to cool your body down.

The positive feedback system operates differently than its negative counterpart. The positive feedback system has the ability to increase in intensity until a desired outcome is reached. This is due to the hormone signals amplifying with each cycle once the system is activated. When a positive feedback system is inactive it is in fact storing energy for the next time that it is activated. This process is very similar to child birth as well as the eruption of a volcano.