System Bandwidth, in the context of human physiology, represents the total capacity of the body’s integrated regulatory networks—primarily the neuroendocrine and metabolic systems—to process information, respond to stress, and execute complex physiological demands simultaneously. Low bandwidth indicates limited reserves and increased vulnerability to systemic overload or fatigue. It quantifies overall physiological robustness.
Origin
This term is an engineering analogy, where bandwidth measures the capacity of a communication channel, applied here to the body’s ability to handle chemical signaling traffic and maintain homeostasis under load. It frames health as a measure of processing capacity.
Mechanism
The functional mechanism relies on the efficiency of the primary axes, such as the HPA and HPG systems, and the availability of substrate molecules for hormone synthesis and neurotransmitter turnover. When bandwidth is high, the system can rapidly upregulate cortisol for acute stress management without negatively impacting reproductive hormone output or metabolic efficiency. Conversely, chronic stress depletes this reserve, narrowing the effective processing window.
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