The luxury of compassion
The parasympathetic state of the autonomic nervous system—often summarised as “rest and digest” is the state of our nervous system which corresponds to a relaxed social experience. Key points: - Dominant branch: Parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) - Primary nerve involved: Vagus nerve (cranial nerve X), especially its ventral branch in calm social engagement - Physiological effects: Slower heart rate, improved digestion, deeper/slower breathing, reduced stress hormones, increased salivation and gastrointestinal activity - Emotional/behavioral tone: Feelings of safety, calm, connection, and compassion; better capacity for empathy and social bonding In polyvagal terms, compassion and relaxed social engagement correspond to the “ventral vagal” state (a calm, connected form of parasympathetic activation), as opposed to the dorsal vagal shutdown response seen in extreme immobilization.
