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