Stephen Porges: POLYVAGAL THEORY [gives theoretical background for ANS work of Klinghardt]

The work of Dr. Stephen Porges, this helps explain some puzzling aspects of human Autonomic Nervous System behavior. Dr. Porges founded the Institute for Child Study where he has developed interventions that help children develop more control of their autonomic function and this improves the social dynamics of their relationships. I have talked with him and appreciate his insights. [Note -- Nov 2006: His work is gaining appreciation for its help in understanding nervous system function.]

Careful anatomical study has revealed nerve fibers from higher centers of the brain are contained in what is considered a main autonomic nerve bundle, the Vagus Nerve. These extra fibers in the Vagus Nerve contribute a third component to what used to be considered a two-part ANS (made up of Sympathetic and Parasympathetic components). This gives a scientific reason for observations that the functions of the Autonomic Nervous System are affected by sound and sight. In our clinic, the Autonomic Response Testing and Applied Psycho-Neurobiology techniques include assessment of affects of colored light and spoken information. [See Autonomic Response Testing]

In addition, the "Triune Autonomic Nervous System" gives added value to our recommendations that patient consider Family Constellation Work or Family Dynamics Work as part of their integrative medicine program.

Graphics re the Triune Autonomic Nervous System ("Polyvagal Theory")
Graphic above: From John Chitty's essay on the ANS and Craniosacral Therapy, and Porges' work. [View: PDF version; or Updated Brief PDF version] Image used by permission: Colorado School of Energy Studies. [See this online as a PowerPoint: Item #8 below]
Interview -- "How your nervous system sabotages your ability to relate."   Original interview: [Click Here]   Graphic of the Three Levels of the ANS: From Nexus Journal interview  [larger size]

1. Interview with Dr. Porges: 2006: "How your nervous system sabotages your ability to relate."

[On website of Nexus Journal] | Original interview: [PDF version]

2. Polyvagal Theory: Three Neural Circuits Regulate Behavioral Reactivity

3. The Polyvagal Theory -- Social Engagement and Attachment: A Phylogenetic Perspective [PDF; in Roots of Mental Illness in Children, Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences]

4. Emotion: An Evolutionary byproduct of the Neural Regulation of the Autonomic Nervous System

5. Dr. Porges' professional Internet site

Three presentations from Chitty, that cite Porges' work:

6. Polyvagal Theory's value to psychology and interpersonal dynamics. [PDF document]

7. Polyvagal Theory...Triune Autonomic Nervous System & Therapeutic Applications [PDF]

8. Triune Autonomic Nervous System: Updated presentation also by Chitty. [PDF]

9. Schore on behavioral understanding, draws on Porges' work [website link]

10. A Voice For Freedom: Trauma & Civilization, draws on Porges' work [website link]

11. Dr. David Baldwin's Trauma Pages includes a section with papers by Dr. Porges.

12. He is spoken highly of by Dietrich Klinghardt, M.D., whose instruction manual had information about Dr. Porges

Related information:

13. Dr. Daniel Goleman writes about the "hard wiring" of the brain for social cues; this is exactly what Dr. Porges is talking about even though Goleman does not mention Porges on his website. Here is an entry in his blog about social cues that are missing in emails: [website link]

See also: Autonomic Response Testing | Craniosacral Therapy

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FlexAware Introduction

I am very impressed with the impact on the ANS of the new mind-body exercise called FlexAware (TM). FlexAware was created by Steven Shafarman, who was a student of Moshe Feldenkrais. Below are some images from the FlexAware page on my clinical site that I created to introduce the way that FlexAware touches upon many important aspects of human health:

	Stephen M. Levin, M.D., is an orthopedic surgeon who has developed a powerful library of visual and written information about the dynamic nature of living tissue. [His Biotensegrity site] [His companion site, Macintosh based, is an extensive network of essays and links] Note: You are encouraged to purchase his DVD: Biotensegrity and Dynamic Anatomy.
YouTube: Biotensegrity Conversation with Dr. Levin View on YouTube.	Dr. Levin's work gives scientific underpinning to the exercises and instructions of the new FlexAware® Fitness approach to health enhancement. If you watch the video to the right of this text, you will then be able to view associated interviews with Dr. Levin, and other presentations about the Biotensegrity model for healthy function of the body.
From Dr. Levin's Links page Tom Flemons of Intension Designs has created tensegrity models and sculptures for 25 years. Kenneth Snelson has built free-form tensegrity structures. Applied Synergetics is the continuum of Buckminster Fuller's book Synergetics and has many good links that are kept up-to-date. Don Ingber is, by far, the leading researcher in the field of tensegrity cellular mechanics. Additional Links: [He writes:] "...There are many health care professionals who have integrated biotensegrity in their thinking and clinical practice.  Here is a of list a few with whom I have had direct contact, but there are many more. They cover a variety of professions and use biotensegrity in different ways. Biotensegrity is to be considered a basic science that can be adapted to various uses in various ways.  You might want to get in touch with any of those whose interest might coincide with yours."	Dr. Levin's internet site includes links to the work of several important researchers whose work is crucial to the growing field of tensegrity modeling of human function.
A Recent Discovery: "Strolling Under the Skin" -- A DVD with a deep view of how Life energies flow within the human body. This is the work of French hand surgeon Jean-Paul Guimberteau, M.D., who discovered that a new way is needed to describe what happens as the body converts energy to movement. The music (e.g., Blue Danube) and words are inspiring. It shows functional relationships of important aspects of the body: the clear light-carrying fascia and the mineral-rich/mobile blood system. [Viewing this, as a former massage practitioner, was a deeply moving experience. I wish that all health care practitioners could view it. I also think that any human being would understand and appreciate their own body a lot better if they watch this.] Available from Anatomy Trains [in the USA]. Dr. Guimberteau's web site.	Converting energy to movement
	Tensegrity information: Audio and Video on AnatomyTrains site: Click here
Study of the Human Form: The Integral Anatomy series -- a beautiful study of the human body from the perspective of the holiness of life. Gil Hedley (author of "Reconceiving My Body") teaches the appreciation of the gift of life by anatomy dissection classes and DVDs. This is for practitioners, students, and the dedicated layperson who wants to learn more about their own body.  See more on his Internet site

systems

The You that contains the three control systems that you use to manage your life [more on Blog entry]

"Living Inside the Box": The more I observe the intricacies of human life the more awed I am at the gift of life. As a doctor I enjoy teaching about how to move forward from where you are to an improved state of health. The more you understand the physical body and its importance to your overall existence the easier it is to make choices that support the life you were meant to have. One way that I describe human health is to recognize the Three Control Systems that each person has by which they manage their life... [more]

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