Neurophysiological foundations of emotional intelligence

Introduction. Emotional intelligence (EI), as well as cognitive intelligence, relates to academic success and social and interpersonal communication. The problem of studying EI is topical in the boundaries of neuroscience abilities research using neuroimaging methods and sheds light on the psychophysiological problem. Aims. This paper presents a review and analysis of the literature about emotional intelligence and the neural pathways responsible for it. Theoretical basis: a narrative overview of published original research and review articles indexed in Google Scholar. Results. EI is based on the brain systems that are engaged in mental functions and associated with the activity of large-scale networks and global characteristics of functional connectivity. These networks embrace the neuronal ensembles of cortical and subcortical regions associated with the perception and recognition of emotions, as well as the generation of affective responses and regulation of emotions. Neuroimaging studies of EI (measured by the test or the self-report method) also demonstrate the involvement of resting-state networks. EI development differs from that of cognitive intelligence. A possible reason for that can be associated with the accumulation of individual emotional experience and sociocultural context and the changes related to brain structures and neural networks during lifespan. Conclusion: This paper provides a better understanding of the relationship between resting-state neural networks and EI. However, comprehensive research on EI and its relationship to large-scale resting networks as well as the global characteristics of functional connectivity is insufficient. Thus, this area of research is promising for science.