The DOI matches its Crossref record; 38 of the 39 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Polyvagal Theory: A biobehavioral journey to sociality
Open accessAbstract
A polyvagal perspective clarifies the neurobiological and biobehavioral shifts that occurred during evolutionary transition from asocial reptiles to social mammals. This transition enabled mammals, unlike their reptilian ancestors, to derive a biological benefit from social interactions. This innovation enabled social behavior to function as a neuromodulator that could efficiently regulate and optimize autonomic function to support homeostatic processes. This journey is highlighted by the phylogenetic transition during which the autonomic nervous system was repurposed to suppress defensive strategies to support and express sociality. The product of this transition was an autonomic nervous system with capacities to self-calm, to spontaneous socially engage others, and to mitigate threat reactions in ourselves and others through social cues. Thus, social behavior became embedded with specific neurobiological processes that had capabilities to support homeostatic functions leading to optimized health, growth, and restoration. Polyvagal Theory emphasizes sociality as the core process in mitigating threat reactions and supporting mental and physical health.
Overview
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
Verification
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?
The cited source doesn’t support the claim as written.
In the citing paper
“Porges (Porges and Dana, 2018; Porges, 2021) did not specifically identify these as critical to the proposed transition.”
From The evolution of sociality and the polyvagal theory (2023) · cites this paper as Porges, 2021
Checked by a reasoning model — may be wrong.
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe source backs part of the claim, not all of it — or backs it for a different population, condition or comparison.
In the citing paper
“Porges (2021) states that trauma is a chronic disruption of connectedness.”
From A theoretical exploration of polyvagal theory in creative arts and psychomotor therapies for emotion regulation in stress and trauma (2024) · cites this paper as Porges, 2021
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe source backs part of the claim, not all of it — or backs it for a different population, condition or comparison.
In the citing paper
“As emphasized in Principle 4, the biobehavioral consequences of this ventral migration of cardioinhibitory neurons in the brainstem provides an organizing principle to understand that the neural regulation of the ANS in humans is an enabler of sociality [33,34].”
From The vagal paradox: A polyvagal solution (2023) · cites this paper as [33]
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe cited source says what the claim attributes to it.
In the citing paper
“However, his list included 'connecting, cooperating and trusting select others' (Porges, 2021), all of which are social behaviors that are not restricted to parental care, or to mammals.”
From The evolution of sociality and the polyvagal theory (2023) · cites this paper as Porges, 2021
The cited source says what the claim attributes to it.
In the citing paper
“The vagus nerve influences heart rate and breathing, thus playing an important role in the regulation of emotions, stress, and social behavior (Porges, 2021).”
From A theoretical exploration of polyvagal theory in creative arts and psychomotor therapies for emotion regulation in stress and trauma (2024) · cites this paper as Porges, 2021
The cited source says what the claim attributes to it.
In the citing paper
“Porges (2021) himself critically reflects on the PVT and also provides the scientific foundation for the testing of hypotheses generated by PVT in a recent publication (Porges, 2023).”
From A theoretical exploration of polyvagal theory in creative arts and psychomotor therapies for emotion regulation in stress and trauma (2024) · cites this paper as Porges (2021)
The cited source says what the claim attributes to it.
In the citing paper
“It is this process of functionally liberating mobilization and immobilization from defensive threat driven strategies that PVT hypothesizes to have supported the emergence of social behavior and cooperation in species of social mammals [33,34].”
From The vagal paradox: A polyvagal solution (2023) · cites this paper as [33]
The cited source says what the claim attributes to it.
In the citing paper
“This suggestion is supported by Porges” polyvagal theory (Porges, 2011, 2021), which characterizes the (myelinated) vagus as the foundation for the social engagement system, facilitating the experience of safety outside of awareness (neuroception).”
From The Complex Construct of Wellbeing and the Role of Vagal Function (2022) · cites this paper as Porges, 2021
The cited source says what the claim attributes to it.
In the citing paper
“According to polyvagal theory (Porges, 2011, 2021), the myelinated vagus in combination with other cranial nerves provides a “vagal brake” over the phylogenetically older sympathetic nervous system and unmyelinated vagus facilitating social engagement and interaction, and this process is outside of awareness.”
From The Complex Construct of Wellbeing and the Role of Vagal Function (2022) · cites this paper as Porges, 2021
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Citations
Cites
The relation of strength of stimulus to rapidity of habit formation
Yerkes, R. M., & Dodson, J. D. (1908) · Journal of Comparative Neurology and Psychology · doi:10.1002/cne.920180503 · Cited by 6,911
Porges, S. W. (2007) · Biological Psychology · doi:10.1016/j.biopsycho.2006.06.009 · Cited by 3,415
Self-citationThe Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma
van der Kolk, B. A., & Bessel, A. (2014) · Medical Entomology and Zoology · Cited by 2,425
The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma
Ray, A. (2015) · The Permanente Journal · doi:10.7812/tpp/14-211 · Cited by 2,215
PORGES, S. W. (1995) · Psychophysiology · doi:10.1111/j.1469-8986.1995.tb01213.x · Cited by 1,624
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
Self-citationHandbook of Experimental Psychology.
Lanes, M. (1952) · The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease · doi:10.1097/00005053-195202000-00008 · Cited by 1,544
Activation: A Neuropsychological Dimension
Malmo, R. B. (1979) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-94-011-6214-2_3 · Cited by 631
Activation: A neuropsychological dimension.
Malmo, R. B. (1959) · Psychological Review · doi:10.1037/h0047858 · Cited by 616
Porges, S. W., & Furman, S. A. (2011) · Infant and Child Development · doi:10.1002/icd.688 · Cited by 548
Vagal Tone: A Physiologic Marker of Stress Vulnerability
Porges, S. W. (1992) · Pediatrics · doi:10.1542/peds.90.3.498 · Cited by 541
The psychological significance of the concept of "arousal" or "activation."
Duffy, E. A. (1957) · Psychological Review · doi:10.1037/h0048837 · Cited by 493
Love: An emergent property of the mammalian autonomic nervous system
W. Porges, S. (1998) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/s0306-4530(98)00057-2 · Cited by 354
Mankind Evolving: The Evolution of the Human Species
Greene, J. C., & Dobzhansky, T. (1963) · Technology and Culture · doi:10.2307/3101360 · Cited by 291
Diencephalon, Autonomic and Extrapyramidal Functions
HESS, W. R. (1955) · The American Journal of the Medical Sciences · doi:10.1097/00000441-195504000-00017 · Cited by 291
The Croonian lectures on evolution and dissolution of the nervous system
Jackson, J. H. (1884) · BMJ · doi:10.1136/bmj.1.1215.703 · Cited by 205
Doussard-Roosevelt, J. A., Porges, S. W., Scanlon, J. W., Alemi, B., & Scanlon, K. B. (1997) · PubMed · Cited by 153
Richter, D. W., & Spyer, K. M. (1990) · Central Regulation of Autonomic Functions · doi:10.1093/oso/9780195051063.003.0011 · Cited by 148
(2010) · Handbook of Behavioral Neuroscience · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-374593-4.00025-5 · Cited by 120
Porges, S. W., Macellaio, M., Stanfill, S. D., McCue, K., Lewis, G. F., Harden, E. R., Handelman, M., Denver, J., Bazhenova, O. V., & Heilman, K. J. (2013) · International Journal of Psychophysiology · doi:10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2012.11.009 · Cited by 120
Borg, E., & Counter, S. A. (1989) · Scientific American · doi:10.1038/scientificamerican0889-74 · Cited by 119
Taylor, E. W., Leite, C. A. C., Sartori, M. R., Wang, T., Abe, A. S., & Crossley, D. A. (2014) · Journal of Experimental Biology · doi:10.1242/jeb.086199 · Cited by 118
Doussard-Roosevelt, J. A., Porges, S. W., Scanlon, J. W., Alemi, B., & Scanlon, K. B. (1997) · Child Development · doi:10.2307/1131844 · Cited by 100
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
Self-citationKolacz, J., Kovacic, K. K., & Porges, S. W. (2019) · Developmental Psychobiology · doi:10.1002/dev.21852 · Cited by 94
Kołacz, J., & Porges, S. W. (2018) · Frontiers in Medicine · doi:10.3389/fmed.2018.00145 · Cited by 86
Reed, S. F., Porges, S. W., & Newlin, D. B. (1999) · Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology · doi:10.1037/1064-1297.7.4.484 · Cited by 80
Porges, S. W., Doussard‐Roosevelt, J. A., Stifter, C. A., McClenny, B. D., & Riniolo, T. C. (1999) · Psychophysiology · doi:10.1017/s004857729997035x · Cited by 63
Porges, S. W., Bazhenova, O. V., Bal, E., Carlson, N., Sorokin, Y., Heilman, K. J., Cook, E. H., & Lewis, G. F. (2014) · Frontiers in Pediatrics · doi:10.3389/fped.2014.00080 · Cited by 43
Portales, A. L., Porges, S. W., Doussard-Roosevelt, J. A., Abedin, M., Lopez, R., Young, M. A., Beeram, M., & Baker, M. (1997) · PubMed · Cited by 31
An Address on Ophthalmology in its Relation to General Medicine
Jackson, J. H. (1877) · BMJ · doi:10.1136/bmj.1.858.703 · Cited by 31
Kolacz, J., Kovacic, K., Lewis, G. F., Sood, M. R., Aziz, Q., Roath, O. R., & Porges, S. W. (2021) · Neurogastroenterology & Motility · doi:10.1111/nmo.14165 · Cited by 30
Self-citationKolacz, J., Lewis, G. F., & Porges, S. W. (2018) · Handbook of Behavioral Neuroscience · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-809600-0.00003-2 · Cited by 28
Self-citationMANKIND EVOLVING: THE EVOLUTION OF THE HUMAN SPECIES
Dobzhansky, T. 1.-1. (1962) · Cited by 26
Fine Structure and Myelination of the Developing Human Vagus Nerve
Woźniak, W., & O’Rahilly, R. (1981) · Cells Tissues Organs · doi:10.1159/000145387 · Cited by 25
Autonomic Indications of Excitatory and Homeostatic Effects on the Electroencephalogram
Darrow, C. W., Jost, H., SOLOMON, A. P., & Mergener, J. C. (1942) · The Journal of Psychology · doi:10.1080/00223980.1942.9917115 · Cited by 19
Bailey (1999) · doi:10.1002/(sici)1098-2302(199909)35:2
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Polyvagal Theory: A Science of Safety
Porges, S. W. (2022) · Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnint.2022.871227 · Cited by 399
FUNDAMENTAL CHALLENGES AND LIKELY REFUTATIONS OF THE FIVE BASIC PREMISES OF THE POLYVAGAL THEORY
Grossman, P. (2023) · Biological Psychology · doi:10.1016/j.biopsycho.2023.108589 · Cited by 91
Sex, love and oxytocin: Two metaphors and a molecule
Carter, C. S. (2022) · Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104948 · Cited by 70
Oxytocin and love: myths, metaphors and mysteries.
Carter, C. S. (2022) · Comprehensive Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.cpnec.2021.100107 · Cited by 57
The vagal paradox: A polyvagal solution
Porges, S. W. (2023) · Comprehensive Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.cpnec.2023.100200 · Cited by 52
“[33,34].”
BackgroundInfluential
Metadata
- Authors
- Porges, S. W.
- Affiliations
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (US)
- Corresponding author
- Porges, Stephen W.
- ORCID
- Porges, Stephen W.
- Venue
- Comprehensive Psychoneuroendocrinology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2021-08
- Volume
- 7
- Pages
- 100069
- ISSN
- 2666-4976 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC9216697
- OpenAlex
- W3168745519
- Cited by
- 142
- References
- 39
- Citations by year
- 2026: 33 · 2025: 25 · 2024: 23 · 2023: 37 · 2022: 21 · 2021: 3
- FWCI
- 14.08
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Comprehensive Psychoneuroendocrinology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- UNC Libraries
- 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 › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
- Keywords
- polyvagal theory, sociality, evolution of social behavior, autonomic nervous system, social engagement, self-regulation, homeostasis, physical and mental health
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
