What is Polyvagal Theory?
Your Shortcut Across the Polyvagal Campus
Dr. Stephen Porges, a professor of psychiatry, developed the Polyvagal Theory and presented his first paper to the Society for Psychophysiological Research in the mid 90s. His complex, scientific theory needed translation for practitioners looking to apply it to clinical disciplines such as psychotherapy, counseling, and social services.
Deb Dana, a licensed clinical social worker, discovered Dr. Porges’ work and began applying the key principles during sessions with her clients. As she witnessed the improved clinical outcomes, especially those who experienced trauma, she continued to develop the language and tools to make PVT Theory accessible to other clinicians and their clients (Dana, 2018; Dana, 2021).
The Polyvagal Institute, a non-profit organization, brings together the difference voices and applications of Polyvagal Theory in the form of videos, interviews, courses, conferences, and webinars.
A google search for Polyvagal Theory reveals that some find the theory controversial. A theory isn’t perfect or absolute—it’s constantly evolving. Dr. Porges answers critics of his theory through thoughtful, scientific responses. If you follow the discussion, you’ll grapple with complex, physiological language that makes you scratch When building new school campuses, should architects include walkways in the design? Or is it better to design and build the campus buildings but let the students create the pathways before paving? Invariably students choose the shortest route from point A to point B. They’ll carve paths in the lovely grass to shave five minutes off their trips between campus buildings. Students take the shorter route even if the longer one is nicely paved, more scenic, and offers opportunities to meet interesting people along the way.
After teaching and training staff for many years I know that like our students, you most likely enjoy the short-cuts as well—those books that shave minutes to years off the learning curve. whether you’re a seasoned polyvagalist or you’ve just stepped onto the polyvagal path, let’s carve out a direct route from point A to point B.
The ANS Update 2.0
Many of you know that the autonomic nervous system is comprised of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. The phrase, fight-or-flight, is commonly used in everyday conversations when describing someone’s sympathetic response to a threatening situation. After the threat is passed, the perception is that the parasympathetic nervous system returns the body back to homeostasis—even keel if you will. The parasympathetic nervous system is often thought of as a state of rest and digestion.
Polyvagal Theory updates this model by explaining the autonomic nervous system differently than it’s been taught for centuries. The vagus nerve, getting a lot of attention these days in somatic and healing methods, is where the update takes place for the nervous system and how the theory came to be named the Polyvagal Theory. Poly in Latin means more than one or many, as in the vagus nerve has more than one pathway: the ventral vagus and dorsal vagus pathways. Polyvagal Theory is named after the vagus nerve and its significant role in updating the ANS model.
The vagus nerve is the longest nerve in the body, connecting to the brain and face and to organs in the body. The vagus nerve makes up most of the parasympathetic nervous system and has two pathways. These pathways are responsible for different responses in the body.
1. The ventral vagus pathway sends messages of safety to the brain making it possible to connect and engage with others. The ventral vagal state is one of safety and connection. In the classroom, we would consider this to be the optimal learning state.
2. The dorsal vagus pathway is responsible for shutting down our systems when the threat of danger is too great to fight or flee. In the case that the sympathetic response of fight-or-flight wasn’t sufficient to get us out of danger, the dorsal vagal shutdown response is initiated to keep us safe.
There are also blended states where two states come together to create variable responses. Let’s hold that discussion for a bit later and stay with the three main states until you are comfortable with the formal names. To review, these three states are ventral vagal, sympathetic, and dorsal vagal. Next up, we’ll give an example of the students’ nervous systems and how they respond in the classroom when detecting a threat of danger.
Befriending your nervous system begins with understanding your three nervous system states.
Dana, D. (2018). The polyvagal theory in therapy: Engaging the rhythm of regulation. New York: Norton.
Dana, D (2021). Anchored: How to befriend your nervous system using polyvagal theory. Boulder, CO: Sounds True.
