Hello incredible professionals,
I’ve been reflecting on the insights many of you shared after previous blog’s introduction to the Polyvagal perspective. It’s remarkable how this lens can transform how we understand the individuals we work with!
This blog, we’re focusing on developing what I call an “autonomic assessment” – the practice of recognizing and responding to nervous system states rather than just behaviors. This skill transforms our effectiveness across all professional contexts.
Beyond Behavior: The Autonomic Map
Traditional approaches often focus on the WHAT of behavior. A polyvagal lens invites us to explore the WHY by assessing the autonomic state driving the behavior. This shift transforms how we interpret and respond to the individuals in our care.
Here’s a more detailed guide to recognizing these states:
1. Ventral Vagal Markers (Safety & Social Connection)
- Facial animation: expressive eyes, relaxed brow and jaw
- Vocal prosody: melodic speech with natural rhythm and inflection
- Natural eye contact (culturally appropriate)
- Engaged social referencing and reciprocity
- Responsive to social cues and connection bids
- Emotional expression is congruent and fluid
- Capacity for narrative coherence
- Appropriate curiosity and play
- Bodily ease and coordination
- Digestive system functioning well
This state makes presence, connection, learning, and growth possible. It’s our goal state for therapeutic work, educational engagement, and relationship building.
2. Sympathetic Dominance Markers (Mobilization)
- Increased muscle tone and tension
- Rapid or irregular breathing patterns
- Heightened startle response
- Scanning environment for threat
- Narrowed perceptual focus
- Difficulty tracking conversation or instruction
- Speech becomes pressured, rapid, or intense
- Digestion slows (complaints of stomach issues)
- Sleep disruption (difficulty falling or staying asleep)
- Immune function may decrease (more frequent illness)
What we often label as “defiance,” “hyperactivity,” “attention-seeking,” or “aggression” may actually be sympathetic activation – the body’s attempt to protect itself through action.
3. Dorsal Vagal Dominance Markers (Immobilization)
- Decreased muscle tone (slumped posture)
- Flat affect with limited facial expression
- Diminished vocal tone and volume
- Reduced physical movement and energy
- Slowed processing and response time
- Limited emotional range
- Passive compliance (often mistaken for “good behavior”)
- Disconnection from bodily sensations
- Reduced cognitive processing
- Digestive slowing (constipation, reduced appetite)
What might be interpreted as “non-compliance,” “laziness,” or “disinterest” can actually reflect protective immobilization – the body’s conservation response when active defenses aren’t available.
The Critical Role of Neuroception
Dr. Porges’ concept of “neuroception” helps us understand why individuals respond so differently to the same environment. Neuroception is our nervous system’s unconscious evaluation of safety and danger, and it’s shaped by:
- Past experiences, especially early adversity
- Sensory processing patterns
- Cultural expectations and experiences
- Relationship history
- Current physiological state
- Environmental cues
For many children and adults with trauma histories, adversity, or neurodevelopmental differences, this neuroception system may identify dangers where others perceive safety. This isn’t wrong or broken – it’s protective adaptation.
I worked with a child who would immediately go into fight/flight whenever asked to join circle time in class. Through a polyvagal lens, we realized his sensory system was overwhelmed by the close proximity of other children as well as the increase in noise – this experience, through his neuroception, signaled to him to identify circle time as threatening. The behavior wasn’t willful opposition – it was biological protection.
Environmental Impacts on Nervous System States
Our professional environments send constant cues that influence neuroception. Consider how these elements might impact the nervous systems in your care:
- Lighting (especially fluorescent lights)
- Background noise and acoustics
- Visual complexity and clutter
- Transition predictability
- Physical proximity requirements
- Sensory demands
- Timing and pacing expectations
- Relationship quality and safety
A simple environmental modification can sometimes shift an entire nervous system state. I’ve seen children transform from constant fight/flight to ventral vagal engagement just by changing lighting, reducing visual stimuli, or creating more physical space.
This blog’s Reflective Practice
I invite you to develop your autonomic assessment skills with someone you’re working with:
1. Create an autonomic profile:
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- Document the specific markers you observe across different states
- Note the subtle early cues that signal state shifts
- Identify patterns of when different states emerge
- Consider environmental factors that influence state
2. Map your own autonomic responses:
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- Notice when your state shifts during interactions
- Identify what triggers your own protective responses
- Reflect on how your state impacts the other person’s
3. Consider one small adaptation:
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- What environmental element might you modify?
- How might you adjust your approach based on autonomic state?
- What regulation support could you offer?
Remember, we’re aiming for curiosity rather than perfect assessment. The goal is to gradually develop your ability to see beneath behavior to the nervous system story it tells.
I’d love to hear what emerges from this practice. What new patterns do you notice? What questions arise? Your insights enrich our collective understanding of this approach.
A reflection that guides my work: When I find myself focusing too much on changing behavior, I gently return to this question – “What might this nervous system need to feel safe enough to change?” The answer often leads to a completely different intervention than I initially planned.
