Kritik an der Polyvagaltheorie

Vergleichende anatomische und funktionelle Studien sprechen gegen die postulierte phylogenetische Verwurzelung der Polyvagaltheorie (PVT). Auch die Bezeichnung „polyvagal“ ist im neuroanatomischen Konstrukt der PVT und im funktionellen Konstrukt des Systems des sozialen Engagements irreführend, da der Begriff impliziert, dass ein „neuer“ ventraler Vagalkomplex neben einem „alten“ dorsalen koordinierende Funktion ausüben würde. Der N. vagus ist sicherlich ein wichtiger Faktor im System des sozialen Engagements (in das der N. hypoglossus einbezogen werden sollte), aber er ist nicht der Koordinator. Vielmehr koordiniert das mesenzephale periaquäduktale Grau zusammen mit dem limbischen System und neuronalen Hirnstammnetzwerken Verhaltenszustände wie Kampf und Flucht sowie Freezing – mit den dazugehörigen motorischen, vegetativen und endokrinen Auswirkungen. Letztendlich wirken zahlreiche andere Hirnbereiche, wenn nicht gar das gesamte Gehirn als System des sozialen Engagements. Folglich wäre eine Neuformulierung, zumindest aber eine klärende Neubezeichnung indiziert.

Publication History

Article published online:
23 March 2021

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