Integrating Behavioral Neuroscience and Educational Psychology in Healthcare Training

Behavioral neuroscience (also known as psychobiology) provides insights into the neural basis of learning, memory, and decision-making, and also considers the neural responses to stress, emotions, and social interactions. Educational psychology encompasses how people learn and retain knowledge, including the role of motivation, self-regulation, and engagement in learning. Education in healthcare not only prepares medical professionals for clinical tasks, but also equips them to handle complex emotional and cognitive demands. The integration of behavioral neuroscience and educational psychology into healthcare training is essential for to creating curricula aligned with brain-based learning and psychological principles, allowing educators to implement effective study patterns, reduce stress, and promote mental health.

This Research Topic aims to explore the synergistic benefits of applying behavioral neuroscience alongside educational psychology to healthcare professions education. By understanding the bases of learning and emotional processes, educators can refine teaching methods to enhance student engagement, resilience, and overall mental well-being. We seek to gather comprehensive studies that delve into cognitive and metacognitive processes, informed by neuroscience, to develop teaching strategies that not only convey knowledge but also promote healthcare professional well-being in the face of current technological and informational complexities.

To gather further insights on effective practices within the education of healthcare professionals, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

• Neuroscience-informed teaching, assessment, and feedback practices
• Behavioral neuroscience in clinical training
• Learner motivation, self-regulation, and metacognition
• Educational approaches to improving motivation, engagement, memory, and cognitive load
• Neuroplasticity and lifelong learning in healthcare
• Neuroscience of stress, burnout, and mental health, including educational interventions
• Neural correlates of emotion and empathy in healthcare education
• Emotional intelligence in the curriculum and professional identity formation
• Neurofeedback and biofeedback in health professions education
• Cultural neuroscience in healthcare training
• Neuroscientific approaches to teamwork and collaborative decision-making
• Neuropsychological approaches to assessment and feedback in learning
• Educational psychology in teaching moral reasoning and ethical decision making
• AI and neuroscience in personalized learning
• Digital learning environments and neural engagement
• Gamification and motivation in healthcare training and their grounded neuroscience strategies
• Resilience training through neuroscience
• Professional development and neural changes
• Integrating social neuroscience in team dynamics

Together, these focus areas aim to enhance the educational landscape in medical settings, equipping students with the tools they need to succeed in their studies and future careers.

Potential article types include: Original Research, Brief Research Reports, Reviews, Systematic Reviews, Mini Reviews, Case Reports, Curriculum Instruction and Pedagogy articles, Perspectives, Opinions.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: behavioral psychology, behavioral neuroscience, psychobiology, educational psychology, cognition, metacognition, mental health, feedback, neurofeedback, learning, education, motivation, teaching, memory, emotional intelligence, reasoning, decision making

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.