Homeostasis, a key concept in biology, refers to the tendency toward                  stability in the various bodily states that make up the internal environment.                  Examples include temperature regulation and oxygen consumption. The body's needs,                  however, do not remain constant. When an organism is under stress, the central                  nervous system works with the endocrine system to use resources to maintain the                  overall viability of the organism. The process accelerates the various systems'                  defenses of bodily viability, but can violate short-term homeostasis. This                  allostatic regulation highlights our ability to anticipate, adapt to, and cope with                  impending future events.In Rethinking Homeostasis, Jay Schulkin defines and explores                  many aspects of allostasis, including the wear and tear on tissues and accelerated                  pathophysiology caused by allostatic overload. Focusing on the concept of motivation                  and its relationship to the central nervous system function and specific hormonal                  systems, he applies a neuroendocrine perspective to central motive states such as                  cravings for water, sodium, food, sex, and drugs. He examines in detail the bodily                  consequences of the behavioral and neuroendocrine regulation of fear and adversity,                  the endocrine regulation of normal and preterm birth, and the effects of drug                  addiction on the body. Schulkin's presentation of allostasis lays the foundation for                  further study.

Rethinking Homeostasis: Allostatic Regulation in Physiology and Pathophysiology PDF

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