Question

What's the opposite of biological control? 

For instance, an infant can't control it's bladder. What word should I use?

Answer 1

Those functions are learned, and controlled by the brain. Take breathing, it is controlled by the sympathetic nervous system, but then, we can hold our breath, so the concious can exercise some control. So it is with the bladder and urinary control, the conscious (learned control) can take over. So the word I think you are looking for is cognitive neurological control. Some simpler folks call this self-control.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sympathetic_nervous_system

Answer 2

It depends on what function you are talking about. With your infant, bedwetting is enuresis. With lack of conscious bowel control, it is called encopresis.

However, this is lack of <I>conscious</I> control over these functions. These functions are still biologically controlled, but not at the conscious level.

I don't know if this helps you.