Physiological Homeostasis and Learning

Synonyms

Internal balance; La fixité du milieu intérieur or stability of the internal environment; Learning; Physiological equilibrium; Physiological regulation; Physiological steady state; Self-maintenance; Self-regulation

Definition

Physiological homeostasis is the tendency of the body to maintain critical physiological parameters (e.g., blood glucose level, blood salinity, blood pressure, core body temperature) of its internal environment within specific ranges of values. The word homeostasis comes from the Greek homoios (ὅμοιος), meaning “similar,” and histēmi (ἵστημι), meaning “standing still” – implying that the internal state is maintained not identically from one instance to the next but within a narrow range of critical values.

Theoretical Background

The concept of physiological homeostasis appears to have originated with the ancient Greeks, who believed that the body maintained a balance of four basic bodily fluids called humors: blood, phlegm, back bile, and yellow bile....