Here's a more detailed explanation:

  • Maintaining Stability Through Change: Allostasis is defined as "stability through change," where the body adapts its internal environment to maintain a stable internal state despite external changes. [1, 3]

  • Anticipation and Adaptation: Organisms don't just react to stress; they anticipate and prepare for it. This involves adjusting their physiology and behavior to meet the demands of their environment. [1, 3]

  • Examples: Allostasis can involve adjusting blood pressure, heart rate, breathing, or hormone levels to respond to a stressor, such as exercise, a predator, or a social interaction. [1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]

  • Allostatic Load: The cumulative cost of allostasis, or the body's adaptation to stress, is called allostatic load. Chronic stress can lead to allostatic load, potentially causing health problems. [1, 9, 10]

  • Allostatic Overload: When environmental demands exceed an individual's ability to adapt, allostatic overload occurs. [10, 11]

  • Brain's Role: The brain plays a central role in allostasis, anticipating and initiating the necessary physiological adjustments. [3]

  • Importance: Allostasis is a fundamental process that allows organisms to survive and thrive in a dynamic environment. [1, 12]


AI responses may include mistakes.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allostasis

[2] https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/allostasis

[3] https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/immunology-and-microbiology/allostasis

[4] https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/allostasis

[5] https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2619523

[6] https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/psychology/allostasis

[7] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2808193/

[8] https://www.dva.gov.au/sites/default/files/allostatic.pdf

[9] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306453023003001

[10] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32799204/

[11] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10716872/

[12] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0018506X02000247

allostasissy.studio

Allostasis is a physiological mechanism where organisms anticipate and adapt to environmental changes to maintain stability. It's the process of maintaining homeostasis (internal balance) through changes in the body's internal environment to meet perceived or anticipated demands. This means the body actively adjusts its energy use and other physiological processes to cope with stressors, both predictable and unpredictable. [1, 2, 3]