Activity 4: Feedback Mechanism
Sweating is an example of a feedback mechanism that reverses a change in a controlled condition. When the body's temperature rises, a negative feedback response works to mitigate the rise of temperature. High temperatures activate sensors in nerve cells, which are then controlled by the brain's regulatory center to activate sweat glands in order to lower the temperature. When the temperature returns to normal, the feedback stops the sweating process.
Another example is when lactation occurs as a result of the positive feedback system. The body alters and amplifies a standard point. When a child feeds, prolactin is produced, which stimulates milk production and leads to more feeding. The milk increases the child's suckling and the parent's hormones.