Neurosciences, Emotions and Higher Education: A Descriptive Review

Abstract

The development of socio-emotional skills challenges the educational, work and social scenarios. The research advances of the neurosciences show the link between cognition and emotion and provide foundations to understand the neuronal and psychobiological bases of educational processes. The aim of the review article is to present relevant findings in the field of emotional and social neurosciences, which could contribute to the design and implementation of teaching-learning practices based on evidence, academic performance, curricular development, education policies, as well as the strengthening of the development of social, emotional and cognitive skills. The results indicate the need to include emotions as a fundamental part of integral education and offer bases to understand the development and limitations of neuronal aspects in educational processes. The empirical evidence, from the neurosciences, is still incipient and the research developments still remain in the laboratories.