Deric’s MindBlog

The Polyvagal Theory Is Dead - and HRV Isn't a Simple Indicator of Arousal

The polyvagal theory, once a cornerstone of trauma‑informed therapy, has been declared untenable by a 38‑author neurophysiological review published in Clinical Neuropsychiatry. The paper dismantles the theory's core claims about vagal anatomy, respiratory sinus arrhythmia, and evolutionary hierarchy, arguing they lack empirical support. As a result, heart‑rate variability (HRV) can no longer be treated as a simple proxy for calm versus arousal. Nonetheless, the observable phenomena of safety, co‑regulation, and hyper‑arousal remain valid, though their mechanistic explanations must be revised.