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