PODCAST: The Science of Feeling Safe with Polyvagal Theory - Dr. Stephen Porges

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Jim speaks with Dr. Stephen Porges who is known throughout the world as the founder of Polyvagal Theory and the music-based intervention, the Safe and Sound Protocol ™ , which currently is used by more than 1400 therapists to improve spontaneous social engagement, to reduce hearing sensitivities, and to improve language processing, state regulation, and spontaneous social engagement.

Dr. Porges has published more than 300 peer-reviewed papers across several disciplines and, in 1994, proposed the Polyvagal Theory, a theory that links the evolution of the mammalian autonomic nervous system to social behavior and emphasizes the importance of physiological state in the expression of behavioral problems and psychiatric disorders. 

Listen as they discuss:

• How the vagus nerve is a conduit for mind-body connection.
• Why a mother’s lullaby helps us calm down through a structure in the middle ear.
• How higher vagal tone is related to better health.
• What is “violation of expectancy” and how we can use it for good. 
• How a person’s nervous system can “retune” due to illness or trauma history —and much more!

Show Links:

https://www.stephenporges.com/

https://www.polyvagalinstitute.org/

Safe and Sound Protocol

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Bio:

Stephen W. Porges, Ph.D. is Distinguished University Scientist at Indiana University where he is the founding director of the Traumatic Stress Research Consortium. He is Professor of Psychiatry at the University of North Carolina, and Professor Emeritus at both the University of Illinois at Chicago and the University of Maryland.  

He served as president of the Society for Psychophysiological Research and the Federation of Associations in Behavioral & Brain Sciences and is a former recipient of a National Institute of Mental Health Research Scientist Development Award. He has published more than 300 peer-reviewed papers across several disciplines including anesthesiology, biomedical engineering, critical care medicine, ergonomics, exercise physiology, gerontology, neurology, neuroscience, obstetrics, pediatrics, psychiatry, psychology, psychometrics, space medicine, and substance abuse. In 1994 he proposed the Polyvagal Theory, a theory that links the evolution of the mammalian autonomic nervous system to social behavior and emphasizes the importance of physiological state in the expression of behavioral problems and psychiatric disorders. 

The theory is leading to innovative treatments based on insights into the mechanisms mediating symptoms observed in several behavioral, psychiatric, and physical disorders. He is the author of The Polyvagal Theory: Neurophysiological foundations of Emotions, Attachment, Communication, and Self-regulation (Norton, 2011), The Pocket Guide to the Polyvagal Theory: The Transformative Power of Feeling Safe, (Norton, 2017) and co-editor of Clinical Applications of the Polyvagal Theory: The Emergence of Polyvagal-Informed Therapies (Norton, 2018).  He is the creator of a music-based intervention, the Safe and Sound Protocol ™ , which currently is used by more than 1400 therapists to improve spontaneous social engagement, to reduce hearing sensitivities, and to improve language processing, state regulation, and spontaneous social engagement.

Show Outline:

2:32 What drives Dr.Porges to contribute so much of his life to his work.

We as humans are essentially good- but only when our nervous system is not in a state of defense. How can we help people feel less threatened?

6:19 The vagus nerve as a conduit for mind body connection.

8:30 Why our mother’s lullaby helps us calm down through a structure in the middle ear.

10:26 Can the vagus nerve weaken or strengthen? Dr. Porges discusses vagal tone.

12:37 How higher vagal tone is helpful? 

13:50 Introduction to Polyvagal theory.

15:16 We learn how to turn the "vagal brake" ON and OFF.

19:37 What is “violation of expectancy” and how we can use it for good. 

21:25 Why the bones of the middle ear, and the frequency of the voice are key to helping a person feel safe.

24:23 How a person’s nervous system can “retune” due to illness or trauma history.

26:22 How preparing yourself before a surgical procedure can help to minimize negative impact on your nervous system. 

30:24 The healing power of singing

31:00 The basics of Polyvagal Theory

36:32 Why a nervous system under “constant threat” can lead to poorer health

37:41: Has 2020 “re-tuned” our nervous systems?

42:40: What Dr. Porges does to stay healthy. 

43:35: How Dr. Porges went into “training” prior to one of his own surgeries.

50:04 An explanation of The Safe and Sound Protocol.

55:39 Dr. Porges weighs in on vagal nerve stimulation devices.

58:38 Where to find out more about Dr. Porges’ work