Polyvagal Theory

What is it and How Does it Apply to My Child?

The Polyvagal theory is a concept which defines how a child responds to his or her external environment and internal body through their autonomic nervous system (ANS).

So what is our ANS?

Fight or Flight requires the activation of our sympathetic nervous system. When using the sympathetic nervous system, our bodies become ready for physical action through increasing our heart rate and blood pressure. Other bodily systems, such as our digestive system, will be put on hold when we are in a sympathetic state. In a crisis situation, the sympathetic nervous system allows us to defend ourselves, acting quickly without needed thought process.

Previously, the parasympathetic nervous system, which activates immobilization, was determined to help bring us out of our sympathetic state. However, the Polyvagal Theory defines the ANS as having a hierarchy of three subdivisions: the dorsal vagal, sympathetic nervous system, and ventral vagal.

The oldest subdivision, the dorsal vagal, allows us to freeze or be in a state of shut down when we feel overwhelmed by a situation. The second subdivision in our hierarchy is our sympathetic nervous system, also known as our 'fight or flight' response. Finally, the most evolved subdivision is our ventral vagal, which is our parasympathetic social engagment and communication system. This system is complex with a network of myleniated neural fibers to regulate heart rate, breathing, blood pressure, hearing, and vocalizing.

There is a natural order of the heirarchy, reliant on the safety or danger of an environment. If we are determined to be safe, we will be in a state of ventral vagal. Our heart rate will be calm, we will breathe more freely, and are able to accurately express ourselves to others. Whereas, if the environment is deemed dangerous, we will be in a sympathetic state with higher heart rate and blood pressure. If the fight or flight system fails, we will enter the dorsal vagal state, a more primitive state with an individual far more disconnected with the world.

The Polyvagal Theory assists us in understanding that our children's behaviors are a reflection of internal nervous systems working on a state of survival. Understanding the meaning behind what we see from others around us allows for more room for compassion and patience.

References:

Breit, S., Kupferberg, A., Rogler, G., & Hasler, G. (2018). Vagus Nerve as Modulator of the Brain-Gut Axis in Psychiatric and Inflammatory Disorders. Frontiers in psychiatry, 9, 44. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00044

Waxenbaum, J.A., Reddy, V., Varacallo, M. (2021). Anatomy, Autonomic Nervous System. StatPearls Publishing.