Polyvagal theory is the tenths cranial nerve and responsible for coordination of signals between the brain to the organs, and under threat it functions as the break to high arousal. For anyone who’s experienced dissociation or depersonalized experiences its the vegas nerve that coordinates this response. The vegas nerve is also responsible for coordination of calm restorative experiences. In essence the vegas nerve is the processor for threat response between the brain and body.
Why Polyvagal? The vegas nerve has three key functions in relation to our autonomic nervous system: 1. Sympathetic arousal, 2. Ventra Vegal, 3. Dorsal Vegal.
The sympathetic nervous system (SNS) prepares us to take action with the options of fight or flight, using movement to protect. This system protects us to mobilize in the search for safety. In our evolutionary history, being alone, not part of a tribe was dangerous, and the sympathetic nervous system activates us to engage and seek safety. If we are under threat the middle ear shifts away from listening to human voice toward listening for low-frequency sounds of predators or high frequency sounds of distress to tune into detecting danger. Also tunes into reading facial expressions however in a heightens state we often misread cues.
Children who experience frequent and ongoing sympathetic activation stay on high alert and release of cortisol that makes it hard to sit still. This may be a factor when diagnosing ADHD and other alternative learning styles.
The ventral vagal is considered the compassion branch of the vagas nerve. This coordinates the body to engage in to care/intimacy/connections, and supports compassionate interactions. It’s the state that slows our heart rate, softens our eyes, brings a kind tone to our voice, and moves us to reach out to others. It is the same energy that support self-compassion. Ventral vagal activity restorative and good for us.
Our dorsal vagal system is considered the oldest part of the autonomic nervous system and part of the parasympathetic nervous system. This nerve is responsible for regulating digestion. It helps us with conservation of energy when we experience high levels of stress. It protects us from both physical and psychological pain. In the most extreme circumstances it’s responsible for freeze response, in less extreme circumstances it will tune our distractions that cause persistent stress. For example veterans who are consistently under threat for more than three consecutive months will report they were able to tune out the sound of bombs, and threat to life experiences. It’s the dorsal vagal system that coordinates this response to protect us from remaining in high arousal.
Specifically for children with alternative learning styles who experience high levels of threat because they are not learning like the others experience dorsal vagal response, and will tune out teachers and others due to the stress its cause in the past.
The dorsal vagal system influences persistent patterns of coping with high sympathetic arousal when we don’t feel like we have options. If an emotional obstacle feels too big to deal with a dorsal vagal response will kick in. If you frequently feel like you don’t matter, are unimportant, criticized or over critical of self, feel like you don’t belong or don’t matter a dorsal vagal behavior pattern will serve to sooth the impact of this unbearable emotional state.
Organizing Principles:
1. Hierarchy: The autonomic nervous system response to sensations in the body and signals from the environment. These pathways work in specific order to respond to challenges in predictable ways. The three pathways are the dorsal vagus (immobilization) the sympathetic nervous system (mobilization), the ventral vagus (social engagement and connection).
2. Neuroception: This is a term to describe the ways our autonomic nervous system response to cues of safety, danger, and life-threat from within our bodies, in the world around us and in our connections to others. Different from perception, this is “detection with-out awareness.”
3. Co-Regulation: Polyvagal Theory identifies co-regulation as a biological imperative: It is through reciprocal regulation of our autonomic states that we feel safe to move into connection and create trusting relationships.