How Does A Level Biology (Year 13) "Negative Feedback and Positive Feedback Work?

A level biology uses negative feedback and positive feedback to explain how our bodies keep things just right, like when you're hot or cold.

Imagine your body is like a house with a thermostat. When it gets too warm inside, the thermostat turns on the air conditioning to cool it down. That’s negative feedback, it's like saying “I'm too warm, so I'll do something to make myself cooler.” It helps things stay balanced and calm.

Now think of positive feedback as when you're on a playground swing. The more you pump your legs, the higher you go, and the higher you go, the more excited you get, so you keep pumping even more! That’s like saying “I'm happy, so I'll do something to make myself even happier.” It makes things go wild and fast.

Your body uses both kinds of feedback all day long, one to keep everything steady, and the other to make big changes happen quickly.