Your Vagus Nerve Is Not in Control: The Problem with Polyvagal Theory - Mad In America
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A wildly popular neuroscience theory promised your vagus nerve holds the key to trauma healing — but critics say the science simply doesn't support it.
Polyvagal TheoryFalsifiabilityReplication CrisisNeuromyth
Theory Briefing
- Polyvagal Theory, developed by Stephen Porges, became a cornerstone of trauma therapy despite contested neurological evidence.
- PVT claims a hierarchical vagal system governs fight-flight-freeze responses, but critics argue this misrepresents basic anatomy.
- The theory's clinical adoption outpaced its scientific validation, illustrating how compelling narratives can override empirical scrutiny in psychology.