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 This video specifically helps teachers understand, in simple terms, what the difference is in your students who are able to be present in class in their "learning brain" versus students who have experienced trauma and are instead in a "survival brain" having a survival response. This may be more suited for children, but it can give us insight into adults' ability to be in learning mode as well. 

Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, a leading trauma specialist, describes the three ways trauma can change the brain: 1) threat perception is heightened, and therefore the individual is more primed to be triggered, 2) the filtering system is disrupted, making it harder to focus and engage, and 3) the self-sensing system changes the way the person feels about themselves. 

 Here there are a number of experts describing the Polyvagal Theory, a theory to help us understand how our nervous systems work under stress and trauma and how it shows up in our behavior.  

Deb Dana describes how the Polyvagal Theory can be used in the classroom.

 The Polyvagal Path to Joyful Learning is a series of short videos that provide insight and practical ideas for educators based on the Polyvagal Theory.