When body temperature rises, a center in the brain initiates physiological changes to decrease the bodytemperature. This is an example of
A) negative feedback.
B) positive feedback.
C) nonhomeostatic regulation.
D) diagnostic regulation.
E) fever.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Negative feedback is a process by which the output of a system (in this case, the rising body temperature) is inhibited or reversed by a stimulus (in this case, the center in the brain initiating physiological changes to decrease body temperature) in order to maintain a stable internal environment (i.e., homeostasis). This is what is happening in the given scenario, making option A the best choice. Positive feedback, on the other hand, amplifies or reinforces the output of a system, which is not the case here. Non-homeostatic regulation and diagnostic regulation are not relevant in this scenario. Fever is a condition in which the body temperature rises above normal and is not a physiological mechanism for maintaining homeostasis like negative feedback is.

When Body Temperature Rises, a Center in the Brain Initiates