Feedback loops and stability

A system can respond to its own output. Whether that response dampens or amplifies change shapes what happens next.

Negative feedback counteracts a departure; positive feedback reinforces one. In physiology, many homeostatic processes use negative feedback. Delays, response strength, and other interacting processes help determine whether a system settles, oscillates, or runs away.

For example: A thermostat turns heating off after the room warms. A recommendation system that gives popular posts more exposure can instead reinforce their initial advantage.

Keep in mind: Positive and negative describe direction, not moral value. Negative feedback does not guarantee stability under every delay or gain.

Think about it

Where does an output become an input in a system you use, and what keeps that loop from dominating?

Connected ideas

Exponential growth and doubling · Emergence from local rules · The is-ought gap

Sources and further reading

• OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e: Homeostasis

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