This textbook is designed for undergraduate students who are taking a behavioral neuroscience course and have completed introductory courses in psychology and biology. Although the scope of this book is broad, some topics were omitted to focus on foundational materials. This is a struggle that textbook authors normally have, which is why no two textbooks have the exact same topics or the same writing style.

The sizes of textbooks also vary considerably, and I opted for a length that fits the needs of students. Most textbooks serve as comprehensive references, often containing more material than can be reasonably covered in a semester. I intended for this book to be a source that can be used in its entirety within a semester. Nonetheless, it still can be relied on for understanding novel concepts in an accessible way, rather than being a set of lecture notes to be memorized.

A particular emphasis in this book has been the role of evolution in the human brain and behavior. This is reflected not only in a dedicated chapter on the evolution of nervous systems—an uncommon feature in behavioral neuroscience textbooks—but also in a consistent perspective throughout the book that highlights similarities and differences between the human brain and that of other animals.

I also tried to include, whenever possible, the real-life implications of the materials covered. Sometimes this involves the “Clinical Points” boxes that briefly explain the health-related consequences of dysfunction in that area. Other times, learning about a feature of human behavior can lead to deep insights into life itself—call it philosophical perspectives, but not esoteric ones, rather, practical life lessons. This is why I believe anyone, even readers who are not pursuing careers in neuroscience, psychology, or medicine, can enjoy learning about the neurobiology of human behavior.

A feature of human behavior, just like everything with biology, is imperfection. This is certainly true of the first edition of any textbook. I invite every reader of this book to consider contributing to its improvement in later editions by sending feedback and suggestions to me at rmokhtar@utk.edu. I am deeply grateful to the students and colleagues who have already offered valuable insights.