EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND TEACHING COMPETENCY: A NEUROCOGNITIVE PERSPECTIVE IN MEDICAL EDUCATION Authors: Bhattrai R* And Pandey CS
ABSTRACT
Emotional intelligence is increasingly recognized as a critical determinant of teaching effectiveness in
medical education; however, its neurocognitive foundations remain insufficiently integrated into
pedagogical frameworks. This review critically examines the relationship between emotional
intelligence and teaching competency, with particular emphasis on underlying neurocognitive
mechanisms. A narrative-integrative approach was employed to analyze interdisciplinary literature
from medical education, psychology, and cognitive neuroscience, focusing on key conceptual models
and empirical evidence. Three major themes emerge: the role of emotional regulation and empathy in
enhancing instructional effectiveness; the contribution of executive functions and associated neural
networks to adaptive teaching practices; and the influence of emotional intelligence on learner
engagement and clinical outcomes. The review also identifies key limitations, including conceptual
ambiguity, insufficient neurocognitive operationalization, and the absence of standardized assessment
models. This study contributes by advancing an integrated neurocognitive-educational perspective and
underscores the need for empirically grounded frameworks to strengthen teaching competency in
medical educators.
Keywords: Emotional intelligence; Teaching competency; Neurocognition; Medical education;
Empathy; Executive function; Educational neuroscience Publication date: 01/11/2026 https://www.ijbpas.com/pdf/2026/November/MS_IJBPAS_2026_10621.pdfDownload PDF
https://doi.org/10.31032/IJBPAS/2026/15.11.10621