The Polyvagal Theory ─ Neurophysiological Foundations of Emotions, Attachment, Communication, and Self-Regulation

Porges (psychiatry, U. of Illinois at Chicago) presents his research on the behavioral neurobiology of emotions, affect regulation, social behavior, and other psychological processes and implications for the treatment of anxiety, depression, trauma, and autism. His polyvagal theory posits that bodily states and mental constructs interact with environmental triggers to create maladaptive behaviors, as the nervous system assesses risk and processes information from the environment through the senses and the neural regulation of the heart provides humans with the ability to express emotion, communicate, and regulate bodily and behavioral states in social situations. He argues that this control of the heart is linked to control of the muscles of the face and head. He details the theory and its ideas, including vagal brake, self-regulation, development, emotion, evolution and dissolution, immobilization without fear, the social engagement system, attachment, love and monogamy, neuroception, prosody and vocal communication, clinical applications, and current work redefining social neuroscience. Annotation c2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)