Cardiac vagal tone: a neurophysiological mechanism that evolved in mammals to dampen threat reactions and promote sociality

摘要

The evolutionary journey from asocial reptiles to social mammals is highlighted by a reorganized autonomic nervous system with unique structural and functional changes in the vagus. These changes enable mammals to suppress defensive strategies in order to support and express sociality. The product of this transition is an autonomic nervous system with capacities to self‐calm, to socially engage others, and to mitigate threat reactions in ourselves and others through social cues.