The Polyvagal Theory

Neurophysiological Foundations of Emotions, Attachment, Communication, and Self-Regulation

By: Stephen W. Porges

Narrated by: Joe Hempel

A collection of groundbreaking research by a leading figure in neuroscience.

This book compiles, for the first time, Stephen W. Porges's decades of research. A leading expert in developmental psychophysiology and developmental behavioral neuroscience, Porges is the mind behind the groundbreaking Polyvagal Theory, which has startling implications for the treatment of anxiety, depression, trauma, and autism.

Adopted by clinicians around the world, the Polyvagal Theory has provided exciting new insights into the way our autonomic nervous system unconsciously mediates social engagement, trust, and intimacy.

©2011 Stephen W. Porges (P)2020 Tantor

Awesome, detailed, research backed information. Deep dive into changes that have occurred between species through evolution.

I purchased hardcover to review in addition, to highlight details, certain details about the nervous system and branches of the vagus nerve. Way too much for me to remember from listening once. Hardcover book will allow me to highlight the applicable parts i want to understand. To differentiate connections between brain, nodes, branches and to grasp a useful understanding of the quite detailed information contained in this book.

Worth it for the foreword

Bessel van der Kolk’s foreword is excellent. But the book itself is lightly-edited reprints of scientific papers, incomprehensible without a graduate-level grounding in neuroscience. Many passages are so dense with Latin terms and acronyms as barely to count as English. Porges’ work is valuable and important but he’s completely incapable of communicating it to a wide audience, and yet seems incapable of learning that basic fact about himself.

Informative

Great overall understanding of polyvagal theory, and it’s applications. Can get repetitive at times, such as explaining differences between mammalian and reptilian nervous systems.

If only the narration were better...

I can't finish this book. I love Stephen Porges' work and highly respect the changes he's making in the field. He's actually really fun to listen to, but he did not narrate this and the narration has turned me off from being able to finish this.

super dense

incomprehensible unless you were already a scientist. normal smart ppl wont follow. i studied psych... had to shut off.