Neuroception is at the heart of the polyvagal theory. It makes it so the nervous system can detect/assess danger in the environment. I

Polyvagal Theory is premised on the idea that neuroception plays a key role in the nervous system’s ability to assess danger in the environment. Neuroception is a neurophysiological response that does not involved cognitive processing. When cognitive processing is not involved, the result may lead to misinterpretation of, and an ability to accurately assess situations: executive functioning including rational thinking and communication skills are lost to physiological response.