The invention relates to a dorsal support (10) for a seat, comprising: - a structural panel (11), - at least two deformable lateral plates (12.1, 12.2) each having a movable end portion (13.1, 13.2) and a reference end portion (14.1, 14.2), - the movable end portion (13.1, 13.2) of each lateral plate (12.1, 12.2) being mechanically connected to a corresponding slide (15.1, 15.2, 15.3, 15.4), and - an actuating device (16) able to move the movable end portion (13.1, 13.2) along the slide (15.1, 15.2, 15.3, 15.4), such that each lateral plate (12.1, 12.2) is able to pass from a non-deformed state, in which each lateral plate (12.1, 12.2) extends substantially in one plane, to a deformed state, in which each lateral plate (12.1, 12.2) is deformed by buckling so as to have a curved shape ensuring lateral retention of a passenger's back, and vice versa.