Polyvagal Theory

Question 1

What are the three organizing principles at the heart of Polyvagal Theory

Answer 1

Hierarchy
Neuroception
Co-regulation

Question 2

Describe Hierarchy in regards to the organizing principles at the heart of Polyvagal Theory.

Answer 2

The autonomic nervous system responds to sensations in the body and signals from the environment through three pathways of response. The three pathways are the dorsal vagus, the sympathetic nervous system, and the ventral vagus.

Question 3

Describe Neuroception in regards to the organizing principles at the heart of Polyvagal Theory.

Answer 3

Describes the ways our autonomic nervous system responds 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 without awareness”, a subcortical experience happening far below the realm of conscious thought.

Question 4

Describe Co-regulation in regards to the organizing principles at the heart of Polyvagal Theory.

Answer 4

A biological imperative: a need that must be met to sustain life. It is through reciprocal regulation of our autonomic states that we feel safe to move into connection and create trusting relationships.

Question 5

What is the function of the autonomic nervous system

Answer 5

The autonomic nervous system responds to sensations in the body and signals from the environment through three pathways of response.

We can think of the autonomic nervous system as the foundation upon which our lived experience is built.

Responds to the challenges of daily life by telling us not what we are or who we are but how we are.

Every response is in the purpose of survival

It simply acts to manage risk and seek safety.

Our personal surveillance system.

Question 6

What are the 3 pathways of response for the automatic nervous system when it receives sensations from the body or signals from the environment?

Answer 6

In evolutionary order from oldest to newest, are the dorsal vagus, the sympathetic nervous system, and the ventral vagus.

Question 7

What is the pattern of response of the dorsal vagus?

Answer 7

Immobilization. It takes us out of connection, out of awareness, and into a protective state of collapse.

Question 8

What is the pattern of response for the sympathetic nervous system?

Answer 8

Mobilization. It responds to cues of danger and triggers the release of adrenaline, which fuels the fight-or-flight response.

Question 9

What is the pattern of response for the ventral vagus?

Answer 9

social engagement and connection

Question 10

From a polyvagal theory standpoint, what is the goal of therapy

Answer 10

To engage the resources of the ventral vagus to recruit the circuits that support the prosocial behaviors of the Social Engagement System

Question 11

What do we see through the lens of polyvagal theory?

Answer 11

The role of the autonomic nervous system as it shapes clients’ experiences of safety and affects their ability for connection.

The behaviors of their clients are autonomic actions in service of survival—adaptive responses ingrained in a survival story that is entered into automatically.

Question 12

What does therapy through a polyvagal lens provide?

Answer 12

supports clients in repatterning the ways their autonomic nervous systems operate when the drive to survive competes with the longing to connect with others.

Question 13

What do we send and search for through the social engagement system?

Answer 13

Cues of safety

Question 14

What is a polyvagal approach to therapy

Answer 14

The four R's
Recognize the autonomic state
Respect the adaptive autonomic response
Regulate and co-regulate into a ventral vagal state
Re-story

Question 15

What are the two main branches of the autonomic nervous system?

Answer 15

Sympathetic and parasympathetic

Question 16

What part of the spinal cord is the sympathetic branch found?

Answer 16

Middle

Question 17

What nerve is the parasympathetic branch of the ANS traveling in?

Answer 17

Vagus nerve. 10th cranial nerve. Longest of the cranial nerves.

Question 18

What are the two parts that the vagus is divided into?

Answer 18

Ventral vagus and dorsal vagus.

Question 19

In polyvagal therory, what are the three states of the autonomic response hierarchy are named (from newest to oldest) ?

Answer 19

Socially engaged, mobilized, and immobilized, or safe, danger, and life-threat.
Safe, scared, and shut down.

Question 20

Describe how the dorsal vagus is protective

Answer 20

The dorsal vagal response is analgesic, protecting from both physical and psychological pain. In the moment of a traumatic event, the dorsal vagus can come to the rescue through dissociation.
A neurological outcome of this dorsal vagal response is reduced flow and oxygenation of blood to the brain, which then translates into changes in cognitive function and experiences of dissociation

Question 21

What are some possible health/psychological issues from dorsal vagal response?

Answer 21

Health issues might be seen through impaired immune function, a chronic lack of energy, and digestive issues and psychological consequences might present as dissociation, depression, or withdrawal from social connection.

Question 22

What are some expressions a client may demonstrate during session when in dorsal vagal response?

Answer 22

gazing out the window or into space; vacant eyes; flat, unresponsive face; collapsed posture; loss of speech; and “stilled” without ease.

Question 23

While in homeostasis, describe the function of the sympathetic nervous system.

Answer 23

this system complements the parasympathetic system, working in concert with the ventral vagus to regulate heart and breathing rates and with the dorsal vagus to support digestion.

Question 24

What is an important regulator of the autonomic nervous system?

Answer 24

Reciprocity

Question 25

What happens to hearing when in sympathetic activation?

Answer 25

the middle ear regulation shifts away from listening for human voice toward listening for low-frequency sounds of predators or high-frequency sounds of distress. The system is now tuned to sounds of danger and not to the sounds of connection.

Question 26

What happens to the ability to read facial cues when in sympathetic activation?

Answer 26

We misread cues. Neutral faces appear angry. Neutral is experienced as dangerous.

Question 27

What are some responses a client may have when in sympathetic activation?

Answer 27

fidgeting; some part of their body is always in motion; they are unsettled, continually looking around the room; a stiff posture; and a sense of disorganization.

Question 28

Describe the vagal break

Answer 28

Is the pathway that regulates the heart rate through it’s influence on the heart’s pacemaker. It brings mobilization without a move into sympathetic activation.
Danger brings a full release of the vagal break. The sympathetic nervous system takes over releasing cortisol and adrenaline triggering fight or flight.