Polyvagal theory

High school (ages 12+)
Human Body

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/polyvagal-theory

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the introduced by?Stephen Porges in 1994
2. What is the key mechanism?Neuroception: the brain's unconscious assessment of safety or danger
3. How does the vagus nerve help us feel safe or scared?The vagus nerve has different parts that can make us feel calm and friendly, or ready to run or stop when danger is sensed. It helps our body decide what to do without us even thinking about it.
4. What is neuroception and why is it important?Neuroception is the brain's quiet way of checking if the world is safe or dangerous. It decides which part of the nervous system turns on, so we can stay calm, get ready to act, or freeze.

Ventral Vagal System: The branch of the vagus nerve supporting social connection, communication, and co-regulation.
Dorsal Vagal System: The older, unmyelinated branch associated with immobilization, shutdown, and dissociation in the face of extreme threat.
Co-regulation: The process of regulating one's own emotional state through interaction with another person.