The early development of the autonomic nervous system provides a neural platform for social behaviour: a polyvagal perspective
Open accessAbstract
We present a biobehavioural model that explains the neurobiological mechanisms through which measures of vagal regulation of the heart (e.g. respiratory sinus arrhythmia) are related to infant self‐regulatory and social engagement skills. The model describes the sequential development of the neural structures that provide a newborn infant with the ability to regulate physiological state in response to a dynamically changing postpartum environment. Initially, the newborn uses primitive brainstem‐visceral circuits via ingestive behaviours as the primary mechanism to regulate physiological state. However, as cortical regulation of the brainstem improves during the first year of life, reciprocal social behaviour displaces feeding as the primary regulator of physiological state. The model emphasizes two sequential phases in neurophysiological development as the fetus transitions to postpartum biological and social challenges: (1) the development of the myelinated vagal system during the last trimester and (2) the development of cortical regulation of the brainstem areas regulating the vagus during the first year postpartum. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
Through maturation and socialization, the ingestive circuit provides the structural neural platform for sociality and co-regulation to optimize homeostatic functions leading to health, growth, and restoration.
“Through maturation and socialization, this “ingestive” circuit provides the structural neural platform for sociality and co-regulation, as major mediators, to optimize homeostatic functions leading to health, growth, and restoration”
From Polyvagal Theory: A Science of Safety (2022) · cites this paper as Porges and Furman, 2011
The Feeding and Model sections (page not provided) describe ingestive-vagal circuitry as a foundation for later social engagement and physiological state regulation. The Evolution section says reciprocal social engagement can calm both members of a dyad. The paper links social interaction to health and growth, but does not establish the claimed chain in which this circuit optimizes homeostatic functions leading to health, growth, and restoration. (LLM, conf=0.82)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe elements of the social engagement system are functional at birth in the full-term infant and serve to enable infant and mother to co-regulate autonomic states via reciprocal cues of safety.
“The elements of the social engagement system are functional at birth in the full-term infant (see Porges and Furman, 2011) and serve to enable infant and mother to co-regulate autonomic states via reciprocal cues of safety.”
From Polyvagal Theory: A Science of Safety (2022) · cites this paper as Porges and Furman, 2011
In humans, the sequence of the three phylogenetic dependent circuits is replicated during gestation.
“In humans, this sequence is replicated during gestation”
From Polyvagal Theory: A Science of Safety (2022) · cites this paper as Porges and Furman, 2011
In humans, there is a maturational progression of the ventral vagus similar to the phylogenetic trend inferred from comparative neuroanatomy.
“In humans, the embryology literature suggests a maturational progression similar to the phylogenetic trend inferred from comparative neuroanatomy (see Ref. [22]).”
From The vagal paradox: A polyvagal solution (2023) · cites this paper as [22]
The sequence of the two vagal circuits was further observed during mammalian development.
“This sequence was further observed during mammalian development (see Ref. [22]).”
From The vagal paradox: A polyvagal solution (2023) · cites this paper as Ref. [22]
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Cites
Porges, S. W. (2007) · Biological Psychology · doi:10.1016/j.biopsycho.2006.06.009 · Cited by 3,415 · see citing works
Self-citationPORGES, S. W. (1995) · Psychophysiology · doi:10.1111/j.1469-8986.1995.tb01213.x · Cited by 1,624 · see citing works
Self-citationThe polyvagal theory: phylogenetic substrates of a social nervous system.
Porges, S. W. (2001) · International Journal of Psychophysiology · doi:10.1016/s0167-8760(01)00162-3 · Cited by 1,582 · see citing works
Self-citationInfant temperament and cardiac vagal tone: Assessments at twelve weeks of age
Huffman, L. C., Bryan, Y. E., del Carmen, R., Pedersen, F. A., Doussard-Roosevelt, J. A., & Forges, S. W. (1998) · Child Development · doi:10.1111/j.1467-8624.1998.tb06233.x · Cited by 234 · see citing works
Vagal regulation and observed social behavior in infancy
Stifter, C. A., & Corey, J. M. (2001) · Social Development · doi:10.1111/1467-9507.00158 · Cited by 147 · cited 1× · see citing works
“…situations is related to better state regulation, greater self-soothing, more attentional control, and greater capacity for social engagement (Calkins, Graziano, & Keane, 2007; DeGangi, DiPietro, Porges, & Greenspan, 1991; Huffman et al., 1998; Porges et al., 1996; Stifter & Corey, 2001).”
BackgroundNeonatal responsivity to gustatory stimulation: The gustatory-vagal hypothesis.
Porges, S. W., & Lipsitt, L. P. (1993) · Infant Behavior and Development · doi:10.1016/0163-6383(93)80006-t · Cited by 42 · see citing works
Self-citation
Flagged first, then by citations
Research works printed but not linked: 22
- Bazhenova OV Plonskaia O Porges SW Vagal Reactivity and Affective Adjustments in Infants during Interaction Challenges Child Development 2001 72 1314 1326 11699673
- Brown JW Prenatal development of the human nucleus ambiguous during the embryonic and early fetal periods American Journal of Anatomy 1990 189 267 283 2260533
- Calkins SD Graziano PA Keane SP Cardiac vagal regulation differentiates among children at risk for behavior problems Biological Psychology 2007 74 144 153 17055141 PMC2773670
- Cheng G Zhou X Qu J Ashwell KWS Paxinos G Central vagal sensory and motor connection: human embryonic and fetal development Autonomic Neuroscience: Basic and Clinical 2004 114 83 96 15331048
- Chisholm K A Three Year Follow-Up of Attachment and Indiscriminate Friendliness in Children Adopted from Romanian Orphanages Child Development 1998 69 1092 1106 9768488
- Chugani HT Behen ME Muzik O Juhász C Nagy F Chugani DC Brain Funcational Activity Following Early Deprivation: A Study of Postinstitutionalized Romanian Orphans NeuroImage 2001 14 1290 1301 11707085
- Doussard-Roosevelt JA Porges SW Scanlon JW Alemi B Scanlon KB Vagal regulation of heart rate in the prediction of developmental outcome for very low birth weight preterm infants Child Development 1997 68 173 186 9179997
- Eluvanthingal TJ Chugani HT Behen ME Juhász C Muzik O Magbool M Chugani DC Makki M Abnormal brain connectivity in children after early severe socioemotional deprivation: a diffusion tensor imaging study Pediatrics 2006 117 2093 2100 16740852
- Feldman R Eidelman AI Skin-to-skin contact (Kangaroo Care) accelerates autonomic and neurobehavioural maturation in preterm infants Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology 2003 45 274 281 12647930
- Kintraia PI Zarnadze MG Kintraia NP Kashakashvili IG Development of daily rhythmicity in heart rate and locomotor activity in the human fetus Journal of Circadian Rhythms 2005 3 1 12 15801976 PMC1079927
- Moore GA Calkins SD Infants’ Vagal Regulation in the Still-Face Paradigm is Related to Dyadic Coordination of Mother-Infant Interaction Developmental Psychology 2004 40 1068 1080 15535757
- Nara T Goto N Hamano S Development of the human dorsal nucleus of vagus nerve: a morphometric study Journal of the Autonomic Nervous System 1991 33 267 276 1918803
- Pereyra PM Zhang W Schmidt M Becker LE Development of myelinated and unmyelinated fibers of human vagus nerve during the first year of life Journal of Neurological Sciences 1992 110 107 13 1506849
- Porges SW Vagal Tone: A physiological marker of stress vulnerability Pediatrics 1992 90 498 504 1513615
- Porges SW Love: An Emergent Property of the Mammalian Autonomic Nervous System Psychoneuroendocrinology 1998 23 8 837 861 9924740
- Porges SW Social engagement and attachment: a phylogenetic perspective Annals of New York Academy of Sciences 2003 1008 31 47 14998870
- Porges SW Doussard-Roosevelt JA Portales AL Greenspan SI Infant Regulation of the Vagal “Brake” Predicts Child Behavior Problems: A Psychobiological Model of Social Behavior Developmental Psychobiology 1996 29 697 712 8958482
- Portales AL Porges SW Doussard-Roosevelt JA Abedin M Lopez R Young MA Beeram MR Baker M Vagal regulation during bottle feeding in low-birthweight neonates: support for the gustatory-vagal hypothesis Developmental Psychobiology 1997 30 225 233 9104553
- Sachis PN Armstrong DL Becker LE Bryan AC Myelination of the human vagus nerve from 24 weeks postconceptional age to adolescence Journal of Neuropathology and Experimental Neurology 1982 41 466 72 7086467
- Suess PE Alpan G Dulkerian SJ Doussard-Roosevelt J Porges SW Gewolb IH Respiratory sinus arrhythmia during feeding: a measure of vagal regulation of metabolism, ingestion, and digestion in preterm infants Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology 2000 42 353 10755456
- Weinberg MK Tronick EZ Infant affective reactions to the resumption of maternal interaction after the still-face Child Development 1996 67 905 14 8706534
- Woźniak W O’Rahilly R Fine structure and myelination of the human vagus nerve Acta Anatomica 1981 109 118 130 7257721
Cited by
Sorted by citations
The effects of music therapy on vital signs, feeding, and sleep in premature infants
Loewy, J., Stewart, K., Dassler, A.-M., Telsey, A., & Homel, P. (2013) · Pediatrics · doi:10.1542/peds.2012-1367 · Cited by 482 · see citing works
Lehrer, P., Kaur, K., Sharma, A., Shah, K., Huseby, R., Bhavsar, J., Sgobba, P., & Zhang, Y. (2020) · Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback · doi:10.1007/s10484-020-09466-z · Cited by 469 · see citing works
Heart-Rate Variability—More than Heart Beats?
Ernst, G. (2017) · Frontiers in Public Health · doi:10.3389/fpubh.2017.00240 · Cited by 416 · see citing works
Is oxytocin “nature’s medicine”
Carter, C. S., Kenkel, W. M., MacLean, E. L., Wilson, S. R., Perkeybile, A. M., Yee, J. R., Ferris, C. F., Nazarloo, H. P., Porges, S. W., Davis, J. M., et al. (2020) · Pharmacological Reviews · doi:10.1124/pr.120.019398 · Cited by 394 · see citing works
Self-citationPolyvagal Theory: A Science of Safety
Porges, S. W. (2022) · Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnint.2022.871227 · Cited by 399 · see citing works
“The elements of the social engagement system are functional at birth in the full-term infant (see Porges and Furman, 2011) and serve to enable infant and mother to co-regulate autonomic states via reciprocal cues of safety.”
BackgroundInfluentialSelf-citationCompassion: From Its Evolution to a Psychotherapy
Gilbert, P. (2020) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.586161 · Cited by 365 · see citing works
“The Importance of Understanding How and Why Care-Compassion Evolved Understanding how and why caring and compassion evolved gives insight into a whole range of biopsychosocial processes (e.g., Gilbert, 1989/2016, 2005a, 2009a, 2017a; Depue and MorroneStrupinsky, 2005; Goetz et al., 2010; Porges and Furman, 2011; Keltn…”
BackgroundCardiac vagal tone is associated with social engagement and self-regulation
Geisler, F. C. M., Kubiak, T., Siewert, K., & Weber, H. (2013) · Biological Psychology · doi:10.1016/j.biopsycho.2013.02.013 · Cited by 313 · see citing works
Psychiatric and psychological aspects in the Ehlers–Danlos syndromes
Bulbena, A., Baeza‐Velasco, C., Bulbena‐Cabré, A., Pailhez, G., Critchley, H., Chopra, P., Mallorquí‐Bagué, N., Frank, C., & Porges, S. (2017) · American Journal of Medical Genetics Part C: Seminars in Medical Genetics · doi:10.1002/ajmg.c.31544 · Cited by 149 · see citing works
Self-citationAktar, E., Qu, J., Lawrence, P. J., Tollenaar, M. S., Elzinga, B. M., & Bögels, S. M. (2019) · Frontiers in Psychiatry · doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00391 · Cited by 140 · see citing works
Polyvagal theory: A biobehavioral journey to sociality
Porges, S. W. (2021) · Comprehensive Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.cpnec.2021.100069 · Cited by 142 · see citing works
Aldinger, K. A., Lane, C. J., Veenstra‐VanderWeele, J., & Levitt, P. (2015) · Autism Research · doi:10.1002/aur.1492 · Cited by 125 · see citing works
Heart Rate Variability in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders: a Meta-analysis
Cheng, Y.-C., Huang, Y.-C., & Huang, W.-L. (2020) · Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.08.007 · Cited by 125 · see citing works
Cerritelli, F., Frasch, M. G., Antonelli, M. C., Viglione, C., Vecchi, S., Chiera, M., & Manzotti, A. (2021) · Frontiers in Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnins.2021.721605 · Cited by 108 · see citing works
Autonomic regulation of preterm infants is enhanced by Family Nurture Intervention.
Porges, S. W., Davila, M. I., Lewis, G. F., Kolacz, J., Okonmah‐Obazee, S., Hane, A. A., Kwon, K. Y., Ludwig, R. J., Myers, M. M., & Welch, M. G. (2019) · Developmental Psychobiology · doi:10.1002/dev.21841 · Cited by 98 · see citing works
Self-citationKolacz, J., Kovacic, K. K., & Porges, S. W. (2019) · Developmental Psychobiology · doi:10.1002/dev.21852 · Cited by 94 · see citing works
Self-citationThe effects of trauma on brain and body: A unifying role for the midbrain periaqueductal gray
Terpou, B. A., Harricharan, S., McKinnon, M. C., Frewen, P., Jetly, R., & Lanius, R. A. (2019) · Journal of Neuroscience Research · doi:10.1002/jnr.24447 · Cited by 82 · see citing works
Aerobic exercise during pregnancy influences infant heart rate variability at one month of age
May, L. E., Scholtz, S. A., Suminski, R., & Gustafson, K. M. (2014) · Early Human Development · doi:10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2013.11.001 · Cited by 82 · see citing works
Williamson, J. B., Heilman, K. M., Porges, E. C., Lamb, D. G., & Porges, S. W. (2013) · Frontiers in Neuroengineering · doi:10.3389/fneng.2013.00013 · Cited by 81 · see citing works
Self-citationGilbert, P. (2021) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.582090 · Cited by 77 · see citing works
Shanahan, L., Calkins, S. D., Keane, S. P., Kelleher, R., & Suffness, R. (2014) · Development and Psychopathology · doi:10.1017/s0954579414001072 · Cited by 52 · see citing works
The vagal paradox: A polyvagal solution
Porges, S. W. (2023) · Comprehensive Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.cpnec.2023.100200 · Cited by 52 · see citing works
“[22]).”
Self-citationDelgado-Pastor, L. C., Ciria, L. F., Blanca, B., Mata, J. L., Vera, M. N., & Vila, J. (2015) · Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.jbtep.2015.04.001 · Cited by 43 · see citing works
Autonomic dysfunction in autism: the roles of anxiety, depression, and stress
Taylor, E. C., Livingston, L. A., Callan, M. J., Ashwin, C., & Shah, P. (2021) · Autism · doi:10.1177/1362361320985658 · Cited by 30 · see citing works
The Science of Love: State of the Art
Marazziti, D., Palermo, S., & Mucci, F. (2021) · Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-74046-7_16 · Cited by 20 · see citing works
Dang, K., Kirk, M. A., Monette, G., Katz, J., & Ritvo, P. (2021) · International Journal of Psychophysiology · doi:10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2021.03.001 · Cited by 16 · see citing works
Porter, C. L., Stockdale, L. A., Reschke, P., Booth, M., Memmott‐Elison, M. K., & Coyne, S. M. (2022) · Developmental Psychobiology · doi:10.1002/dev.22337 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
- Authors
- Porges, S. W., & Furman, S. A.
- Affiliations
- University of Illinois Chicago (US)
- Corresponding author
- Porges, Stephen W.
- ORCID
- Porges, Stephen W.
- Venue
- Infant and Child Development
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2011-01
- Volume
- 20
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 106-118
- ISSN
- 1522-7219 (ISSN-L)
- 1522-7227
- PMC
- PMC3079208
- OpenAlex
- W2171699442
- Cited by
- 548
- References
- 6
- Citations by year
- 2026: 26 · 2025: 75 · 2024: 50 · 2023: 31 · 2022: 50 · 2021: 48 · 2020: 34 · 2019: 52 · 2018: 28 · 2017: 35 · 2016: 33 · 2015: 32 · 2014: 19 · 2013: 28 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 7.69
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Infant and Child Development (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- American Psychological Association
- National Institutes of Health
- National Institute of Mental Health (T32MH018882)
- National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (R01HD053570)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Heart Rate Variability and Autonomic Control
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Vagus Nerve Stimulation Research
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Neuroscience of respiration and sleep
- Keywords
- autonomic nervous system development, polyvagal theory, vagal regulation, respiratory sinus arrhythmia, infant self-regulation, social engagement, postpartum development, fetal development
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
