Andrea Manzotti, Cristina Panisi, Micol Pivotto, Federico Vinciguerra, Matteo Benedet, Federica Brazzoli, Silvia Zanni, Alberto Comassi, Sara Caputo, Francesco Cerritelli, Marco Chiera
The polyvagal theory has led to the understanding of the functions of the autonomic nervous system in biological development in humans, since the vagal system, a key structure within the polyvagal theory, plays a significant role in addressing challenges of the mother-child dyad. This article aims to summarize the neurobiological aspects of the polyvagal theory, highlighting some of its strengths and limitations through the lens of new evidence emerging in several research fields-including comparative anatomy, embryology, epigenetics, psychology, and neuroscience-in the 25 years since the theory's inception...
February 2024: Developmental Psychobiology