02/25/2026
Polyvagal Theory is having a moment online,
and some posts are shouting
“It’s been debunked!”
Before you panic‑scroll: it hasn’t.
What’s actually happening is a debate about specific anatomical details—
how the vagus nerve is organized,
what heart‑rate variability can measure,
and whether the evolutionary story is as tidy as we once thought.
Stephen Porges responded saying the critique is aimed at a simplified version of his theory, not the actual science.
As an Osteopath, this all feels very familiar.
Science isolates one tiny piece to study it.
But the body doesn’t work in pieces—it works as a system.
Pull one thread out of a systems‑wide theory
and of course it won’t “prove” the whole thing.
You can’t understand the whole forest by examining one leaf.
Here’s what hasn’t changed:
Your body shifts into connection, stress, or shutdown depending on safety.
Those states shape how you feel, move, and relate.
And through awareness and certain practices, we have influence over those states.
Your lived experience is still valid.
Your body’s wisdom is still intact.
The debate is about the wiring —not about you.
Continue to use the practices that help you.
And
continue to pay attention to the science and adapt as we learn more.
Let's stay curious together.
