concept
Dorsal Vagal Shutdown
Polyvagal state of collapse, immobilization, and numbing mediated by the unmyelinated dorsal vagus when threat is inescapable.
Articles that reference Dorsal Vagal Shutdown
3 articles in the library.
Body of Knowledge of Psychotraumatology
Polyvagal Theory
Polyvagal Theory, developed by neuroscientist Stephen Porges, has significantly transformed contemporary understandings of trauma, emphasizing the critical role of the autonomic nervous system in trauma responses and healing (Porges, 2011). At its core, Polyvagal Theory provides a biological framework for understanding safety, danger, and life-threatening states, fundamentally reshaping how clinicians conceptualize and address trauma. Foundations
Evidence-Based Trauma Therapies and Models
Polyvagal Theory–Informed Therapies
Polyvagal Theory–Informed Therapies (PVTT) are trauma treatment approaches based on the polyvagal theory developed by Stephen Porges (2011, 2017). They integrate an understanding of the autonomic nervous system’s hierarchical responses to threat and safety into therapeutic interventions, aiming to restore nervous system flexibility, emotional regulation, and a sense of safety. Foundational Principles Polyvagal theory posits
Neurobiology of Trauma
Autonomic Nervous System and Polyvagal Theory
Another crucial physiological component in trauma is the autonomic nervous system (ANS), which governs involuntary bodily functions and modulates states of arousal and rest. The ANS is divided into two primary branches: the sympathetic nervous system (associated with fight-or-flight responses) and the parasympathetic nervous system (linked to rest, digestion, and repair). Trauma causes profound dysregulation