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