HYPOTHESIS AND THEORY article
Front. Behav. Neurosci.
Sec. Emotion Regulation and Processing
Volume 19 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fnbeh.2025.1659083
This article is part of the Research TopicExploring CNS-ANS communication: Implications for mental and physical healthView all 4 articles
Polyvagal Theory: Evolution, Engagement, and Clinical Observation
Provisionally accepted
- Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, United States
Select one of your emails
You have multiple emails registered with Frontiers:
Notify me on publication
Please enter your email address:
If you already have an account, please login
You don't have a Frontiers account ? You can register here
Polyvagal Theory (PVT) offers an integrative model of autonomic regulation that accounts for the evolution, neuroanatomy, and functional organization of the vagus nerve in relation to behavioral and emotional processes. This article revisits PVT by synthesizing its scientific foundations with recent advancements in transcriptomics, neurophysiology, and clinical application. Particular emphasis is placed on the theory’s hierarchical model of the autonomic nervous system, the role of the ventral vagal complex in social behavior, and the construct of neuroception - the neural process by which safety and threat are detected without conscious awareness. The discussion incorporates both theoretical refinement and empirical validation while addressing common misconceptions and critiques of the model. In addition to the scientific narrative, the author offers a personal perspective on the intellectual and experiential origins of PVT, illustrating its translational value in clinical and therapeutic settings. By combining rigorous science with experiential insight, this article seeks to advance understanding of the autonomic foundations of social behavior and mental health.
Keywords: Polyvagal Theory, Autonomic Nervous System, Vagus Nerve, respiratory sinus arrhythmia, Neuropeptides, neuroception, social engagement system, Evolutionary Neuroscience
Received: 03 Jul 2025; Accepted: 13 Aug 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Porges. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Stephen W Porges, Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, United States
Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.