10/02/2025
We often rush to explain behavior as “misbehavior” or “acting out.” But behavior is not random — it’s the output of our autonomic state, the nervous system’s way of responding to what it detects.
Through neuroception, the nervous system is constantly scanning the environment for cues of safety or danger. That process is influenced by biology, temperament, lived experience (including trauma), culture, and neurology, and it’s always responding to what’s happening around us.
When one pathway becomes primarily activated, the other pathways are still active in the background and continue to influence behavior. What we see are outputs of autonomic state — responses that reflect the whole system at work.
Adaptive capacity is the nervous system’s ability to adjust as conditions change — for different pathways to take the lead when needed and then rebalance.
As educators, our role is to notice these behavioral signals and offer co-regulation, helping students return to safety so learning can take place.
📖 Citation:
Porges, S. W. (2025). Polyvagal theory: A journey from physiological observation to neural innervation and clinical insight. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 19, 1659083
