Polyvagal Theory, developed by Stephen Porges, provides a neuroscience framework that explains many aspects of asperger's syndrome in terms of the nervous system's safety-detection mechanisms.
The Three States of Polyvagal Theory and Asperger's Syndrome
Ventral vagal (safe and social): Optimal state for connection, learning, and asperger's syndrome management
Sympathetic mobilization (fight or flight): Anxiety-type asperger's syndrome responses
Dorsal vagal shutdown (freeze/collapse): Depression and dissociation-type asperger's syndrome
Neuroception and Asperger's Syndrome
Neuroception — the body's unconscious safety-detection — can be dysregulated in asperger's syndrome, causing false alarms (sensing danger when safe) that drive asperger's syndrome responses.
Polyvagal-Informed Asperger's Syndrome Treatment
Therapy that acknowledges the body's state — helping clients move into ventral vagal 'safe and social' — transforms asperger's syndrome management.
Safe relationships, co-regulation, and body-based practices are particularly emphasized.