AP Biology Flashcards: Feedback
Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026
Review key ideas with interactive flashcards. This set includes 10 cards to help you master important concepts.
How does the response in a positive feedback loop affect the stimulus?
The response in a positive feedback loop amplifies the initial stimulus, driving the system further from its starting state.
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How does the response in a positive feedback loop affect the stimulus?
The response in a positive feedback loop amplifies the initial stimulus, driving the system further from its starting state.
How do feedback mechanisms contribute to the maintenance of an organism's internal environment?
They act as regulatory pathways, either reducing stimuli (negative) or amplifying them (positive) to control physiological conditions.
What is a positive feedback mechanism?
A positive feedback mechanism amplifies responses, which moves the system further away from the initial set point.
How does the response in a negative feedback loop affect the stimulus?
The response in a negative feedback loop reduces or counteracts the initial stimulus, promoting stability around a set point.
Which type of feedback mechanism is primarily responsible for maintaining homeostasis?
Negative feedback is the primary mechanism for maintaining homeostasis because it works to stabilize a system at a target set point.
If a system needs to rapidly move to a new state, which feedback mechanism would be more effective?
Positive feedback would be more effective, as it is designed to amplify responses and move a system away from its initial state.
What is the primary purpose of feedback mechanisms in organisms?
Organisms use feedback mechanisms to maintain their internal environments and achieve homeostasis.
Define 'set point' in the context of feedback mechanisms.
A set point is the target value or range that a physiological variable is maintained at through negative feedback.
Compare the ultimate effect of positive and negative feedback on a system's set point.
Negative feedback maintains a system at its set point, while positive feedback moves a system away from its set point.
What is a negative feedback mechanism?
A negative feedback mechanism reduces the initial stimulus to maintain a target set point within an organism's internal environment.