In this episode, Dr. Lori Desautels, assistant professor at Butler University and founder of the Applied Educational Neuroscience certification program, discusses the transformative power of understanding the nervous system—particularly through the lens of polyvagal theory—in education. She shares her journey from special education teacher to neuroscientific educator and highlights how applied neuroscience can revolutionize classroom practices to support both teachers and students.
Join Dr. Desautels & Dr. Niki Elliott for a special one-day summit for Educators at the Polyvagal Institute on October 4, 2025: https://learning.polyvagal.org/course… 00:00
Introduction & Welcome 01:20
Dr. Lori Desautels’ Background 05:45
Discovering Neuroscience in Education 09:15
Polyvagal Theory in the Classroom 13:30
Teaching Kids About the Nervous System 18:40
The Vagus Nerve and Regulation Practices 23:10
The Four Pillars of Applied Educational Neuroscience 29:00
Co-Regulation and Classroom Practices 34:20
Challenges in Schools and Resistance 39:15
New Work: Body and Brain Brilliance 43:20
Closing Thoughts & Resources 45:00 – Outro & Polyvagal Institute Info