Social Neuroscience features original empirical Research Papers as well as targeted Reviews, Commentaries and Fast Track Brief Reports that examine how the brain mediates social behavior, social cognition, social interactions and relationships, group social dynamics, and related topics that deal with social/interpersonal psychology and neurobiology. Multi-paper symposia and special topic issues are organized and presented regularly as well.

The goal of Social Neuroscience is to provide a place to publish empirical articles that intend to further our understanding of the neural mechanisms contributing to the development and maintenance of social behaviors, or to understanding how these mechanisms are disrupted in clinical disorders.
Submissions from all branches of neuroscience are welcome, including (but not limited to) bio/neuropsychology, pharmacology, genetics, neuroendocrinology, evolution, psychiatry, neurology, aging and translational social neuroscience.  Experimental investigations of human subjects and animal models are encouraged. Further, submissions are sought that present brain-based empirical data in the fields of social and cognitive psychology, including social cognitive neuroscience, philosophy, lifespan developmental and other humanities areas.
Articles published in Social Neuroscience cover all neuroscience techniques including neuroimaging,  neurophysiology, and stimulation  methods (e.g., morphometry, fMRI, PET, ERP, TMS), as well as more traditional neuroscience techniques such as animal models, clinical case studies, clinical neurologic, neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric  populations, post-mortem studies, and behavioral neuropharmacology . Social Neuroscience does not publish articles that report only behavioral data.
The journal focuses on both molar (i.e., regional cortical localization, neural networks) and molecular (i.e., neurotransmitter) research. A broad range of social behaviors are covered including all aspects of inter- and intra-individual relationships. Investigations of environmental and genetic influences on social neurobiology are encouraged. Studies of abnormal social behaviors and social impairments in clinical populations (e.g., traumatic brain injury, stroke, dementia, schizophrenia) are focused on in terms of understanding social/brain relationships. Language, memory, attention and perception are appropriate topics if they relate to specific social behaviors or cognitions.