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The feedback loop means that the effector brings the factor
back to normal, which starts the whole process again.
Chunk
Corrective actions that return a body
system to normal are called _____
_____.
Define feedback mechanism.
What are the five parts of a feedback
mechanism?
Tell what each of these does: factor,
sensor, integrating center, effector,
feedback loop.
Our building in western Siberia is heated by a gas stove. The temperature
rises until it reaches the blue indicator on the thermostat. This switches the
heat off. Because it is a very cold day, and some heat escapes the house,
the temperature inside begins to drop. When it falls to the red indicator, the
heat is turned on. This causes the temperature to rise
which eventually reaches the blue indicator
which turns the heat off
which causes the temperature to fall
which eventually reaches the red indicator
which turns on the heat
which causes the temperature to rise
Each step causes an opposite or negative action at the next step. More heat
turns the heat off. Less heat turns the heat on.
In our animation it is possible to position the controls so that the blue turn-off
indicator is below the red turn-on indicator. What do you think will happen?
Try it.
A
Thermostat detects
cooling room
temperature
Room
temperature
increases
Chunk!
Using the
feedback loop
diagram at the
right, explain
how a
thermostat and
furnace control
the temperature
of your house.
Negative Feedback Systems
this type of system is the most common;
a simple example is the regulation of
human body temperature
B
Brain detects
drop in blood
temperature
Negative feedback:
Pancreas lower blood sugar
secretes leads to shutting
insulin off of insulin
production
Click on the image for an animation. Change the volume and see what happens.
When the man speaks, the sound of his voice is picked up by the microphone.
It is amplified and emerges from the loudspeaker. Some of the sound from
the loudspeaker also goes into the microphone. It is "fed back" into the
amplifier circuit. If the volume is not set too high, everything is fine. The
amplifier even gets a bit of a boost by having the microphone and speaker in
the same room.
But if there is too much amplification, things go out of control. The louder
output from the speaker causes a greater input to the microphone
which causes a louder output from the speaker
which results in a greater input to the microphone
which causes a louder output from the speaker
The limit is that there is a maximum volume that the system can
produce. Or, someone intervenes and turns down the volume.