Final answer:
The regulation of water intake and the sensation of thirst is controlled by the thirst center in the hypothalamus of the brain.
Step-by-step explanation:
Regulation of water intake and thirst is controlled by the thirst center within the hypothalamus of the brain. When the concentration of solutes in the blood (osmolality) increases, indicating potential dehydration, osmoreceptors in the thirst center of the hypothalamus detect this change and trigger a thirst response. This response includes the feeling of thirst, prompting an individual to drink water, and the release of antidiuretic hormone (ADH), also known as vasopressin, which signals the kidneys to conserve water and dilute the blood plasma.