The polyivagal theory is a neurophysiological, psychophysiological and phylogenetic theory enunciated by Dr. Stephen W. Porges of the University of Illinois in 1995. According to this theory, much of social behavior and emotions have important physiological, which are a consequence of the peculiar way in which mammals have resolved the regulation of the autonomic nervous system through the vagus nerve. In its final stage, there would be a neuroanatomic union between the vagus nuclei and those of other cranial nerves, especially those responsible for social interaction through facial expression and vocalizations. This would integrate all the systems involved in the stress response, including the cortex, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, neuropeptides such as oxytocin and vasopressin and the immune system. Several diseases and psychiatric disorders could be related to general the polyvagal system regulation, such as asthma or borderline Personality Disorder, among others. Footnotes
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