
4
Negative feedback systems
4.1 Introduction
Negative feedback is a powerful mechanism for changing a nd controlling the
dynamics of a system. Through the exp e rt us e of this type of feedback, control
engineers are a ble to manipulate the dynamics of a huge variety of different
systems, so that they behave in a way that is desirable and efficient from the
point of view of the user, [1, 2, 3]. In biolo gical systems, evolutionary pres-
sures have led to the use of negative feedback fo r a wide variety of purpose s,
including homeostasis, chemotax is, adaptation and signal transduction. As
shown in Fig. 4.1, the principle of negative feedback is extremely ...