Arts Inspired Brain Change: Cultivating Neuro-Connections for Opening Possibilities
Dr. Stephen Porges, a developmental psychologist and researcher, is the founder of Polyvagal Theory, which he introduced in 1994. His work explores how the autonomic nervous system responds to stress, safety, and social connection. This theory describes the evolution of the nervous system and origins of brain structures, theorizing that most social and behavioral disorders are biological (Dkema, 2006). Polyvagal theory describes how the vagus nerve influences emotional regulation, social behavior, bodily functions and physiological responses to stress.
The vagus nerve is the care-taker nerve of the body which communicates from the gut to the brain and the organs in between. Starting at the brainstem this wandering 10th cranial nerve helps regulate the heart, lungs, spleen, stomach, liver and intestines. It is involved in providing sensory information to the outer ear, influencing eye function and is involved in controlling the vocal cords. The vagus is part of the autonomic nervous system.
The autonomic nervous system controls our unconscious bodily functions. Traditionally, the autonomic nervous system was understood as having two branches:
- The sympathetic nervous system, associated with fight or flight
- The parasympathetic nervous system, generally associated with rest and digest
Porges identified that the parasympathetic nervous system has two pathways.
- Dorsal vagal (freeze)
- Evolutionarily older part of brain, shared with reptiles
- Innervates (supplies an organ with nerves) the diaphragm, gut, kidneys
- Activated when we perceive life-threatening danger or overwhelm
- Can lead to shutdown, numbness, collapse and
Prolonged dorsal vagal activation can contribute to chronic illness, depression, or disconnection.
- Ventral vagal (Social engagement system)
- Newer mammalian part of brain
- Regulates the face, voice, heart, and lungs
- Activated when we perceive safety
- Supports feelings of calm, connection, openness, and co-regulation
- Promotes digestion, heart rate regulation
- Facial expression, and vocal tone
- Enables social bonding, communication, and emotional resilience
The Polyvagal Theory could be described as the Science of Safety and Connection. Our autonomic nervous system responds to life challenges in a hierarchical order when faced with stressors or a threat. The ventral vagus ignites if we feel safe. If there is a trigger the sympathetic nervous system mobilizes the body into a fight or flight response. If there is
a perceived life-threatening situation the dorsal vagus immobilizes the body into shut down. (Porges, 2008)
Neuroception is a term coined by Porges to describe the subconscious process in which the nervous system continually monitors the environment for cues of safety or threat. This internal scanning helps the body prepare for one of three autonomic responses: fight/flight, shutdown, or social engagement. Safety or danger is read through the eyes, facial expressions, body language and tone of voice.
Neurologically, prosodic voices (those with melodic tone and rhythm) and expressive facial expressions and movements can evoke a sense of safety in the receiver (Porges, 2009). Interestingly, the same facial muscles we use to interpret emotional cues from others also help generate internal signals of safety, activating the ventral vagal state, what Porges refers to as the Social Engagement System.
These facial muscles are also involved in expressive acts such as singing, playing wind instruments, and listening to music. Their role in signaling safety is thought to involve modulation of the middle ear muscles, which help tune our listening to human voices and reduce sensitivity to background noise. (Porges, 2008). Many individuals in a dorsal vagal state have difficulty hearing human voices and are more attuned to low-frequency sounds, which the nervous system can interpret as cues of danger.
Self-regulation is the ability to recognize when we are in a dysregulated state—such as anxiety, overwhelm, or shutdown—and shift back into a calm, balanced state. Tracking the nervous system means tuning in to our physiological states and noticing subtle shifts in breath, muscle tension, and energy levels. By developing tools that support and stimulate the vagus nerve, we can increase resilience, enhance emotional regulation, and deepen our capacity for social connection. The vagus nerve responds positively to smiling, laughing, being heard, safe social interactions, hugs, positive thoughts, playing and presence.
These practices stimulate the ventral vagus nerve and support regulation:
- Breathwork – especially slow breathing with longer exhales than inhales
- Singing, humming, chanting, playing a wind instrument, music improvisation
- Grounding practices, dance, movement improvisation, QiGong, Yoga
- Expressive activities like guided visualization, art-making and writing
Co-regulation refers to the process of regulating our nervous system through connection with others. Humans are biologically wired for connection and our nervous systems communicate through facial expressions, tone of voice, eye contact, and presence. Relationships and environments that feel safe can help down-regulate stress and support healing and emotional balance—especially for individuals who have experienced trauma or chronic dysregulation.
Collective group singing, humming and/or chanting create a calming effect through promoting social interaction, increased (HRV), oxytocin production and collective vagal nerve stimulation, strengthening bonding and social cohesion (Vickhoff , et al, 2013). Other forms of expressions such as – Group art-making, music improvisation, drumming and dance also build a felt sense of connection.
Conclusion: Polyvagal Theory offers a scientific framework that supports the practices of Expressive Arts Therapy. A foundational principle in both is the creation of a safe, supportive space. In sessions, clients are often invited to check in somatically—bringing awareness to body sensations, emotions, and felt experiences through verbal and non-verbal expression. Modalities such as singing, movement, and drumming can stimulate the ventral vagus nerve, promoting regulation, calm, curiosity, and connection.
The Polyvagal model offers a powerful lens to understand ourselves and others through the science of the nervous system. By learning to recognize and respond to our own and others’ autonomic states, we can cultivate deeper self-awareness, resilience and relational safety. It is truly remarkable that we can regulate and co-regulate through play, imagination and the expressive arts. With compassion, a sense of safety, and supportive relationships, we can access our innate potential—opening to new possibilities and embodying our greatness.
Bibliography Arts-Based Brain Change
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Dana, D. (2018). The Polyvagal Theory in therapy: Engaging the rhythm of Regulation, New York: Norton
Dykema, R. (2006). Don’t Talk to me now, I’m scanning for danger: How your nervous system sabotages your ability to relate. An interview with Stephen Porges about the Polyvagal theory. Nexus, Mar-April
Miller,L. & Miller, E. (2017) Music for Neuromodulation in Rhythmic Stimulation Procedures in Neuromodulation, Evans London: Elsevier
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Gaynor, M. (1999). Sounds of Healing: A Physician Reveals the Therapeutic Power of Sound, Voice and Music, Random House: NY
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Porges, S. (2009). The polyvagal theory: New insights into adaptive reactions of the autonomic nervous system. Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine, 76(Suppl 2), S86–S90. https://doi.org/10.3949/ccjm.76.s2.17
Porges, S. & Dana, D. (Eds.). (2018). Clinical applications of the polyvagal theory: The emergence of polyvagal-informed therapies, New York: Norton
Rosenberg,S. (2017) Accessing the Healing Power of the Vagus Nerve. Berkely, CA: North Atlantic Books
Vickhoff, B., Malmgren, H.,Astrom, R.,Nyberg, G., Ekstrom, S. Engwall, M. Jornsten, R. (2013) Music structure determines heart rate variability of singers, Frontiers in Psychology, 334