What is negative feedback in biological systems?

Negative feedback in biological systems is a process that counteracts changes to maintain balance, which is crucial for homeostasis. When a system deviates from its set point or optimal condition, negative feedback mechanisms detect this change and initiate responses that bring the system back to its equilibrium state. For example, in temperature regulation, if the body temperature rises above the normal range, mechanisms such as sweating and increased blood flow to the skin are activated to cool the body down. Conversely, if the body temperature drops, shivering and reduced blood flow to the skin help restore the temperature.

This mechanism is essential for ensuring stability in physiological processes, safeguarding organisms against the detrimental effects of extreme fluctuations in internal conditions.

In contrast, the other options describe processes that do not align with the concept of negative feedback: amplifying changes within a system or promoting deviations would lead to instability rather than balance, while enhancing biological performance does not inherently imply homeostatic regulation.