Which feedback mechanism helps maintain body temperature by increasing or decreasing heat production?

• A. Positive feedback
• B. Negative feedback (e.g., shivering when cold)
• C. Neutral feedback
• D. No feedback mechanism

Answer: (B)

Negative feedback maintains body temperature by counteracting deviations from the set point. When you get cold, thermoreceptors detect the drop and the hypothalamus triggers heat-producing responses, with shivering as a primary example. Shivering increases metabolic heat generation, pushing body temperature back toward the set point. As temperature rises, the stimulus for shivering diminishes, reducing heat production and stabilizing temperature. This loop is effective for temperature regulation because it reverses the direction of the change. In contrast, positive feedback would amplify the initial change, driving temperature further from the set point, while neutral or no feedback wouldn’t correct the deviation at all.