Introduction: Primers on the Brain and Nervous System
Scientific discovery rarely happens all at once. Knowledge grows as researchers ask questions, test ideas, compare evidence, and revise explanations. Since the eighth edition of Brain Facts was published in 2018, neuroscience has continued to advance.
The Brain Primer series brings the foundational content comprising the Brain Facts book online. The series follows the book’s chapter order, but it divides each section into individual content pages, making it easier to explore one subject at a time.
Brain Primers include:
- Updated statistics and terminology
- Clearer explanations of complex concepts
- Corrections to outdated information or errors
- Links to related BrainFacts articles, interactives, and educational resources
The complete Updates and Corrections page lists the record of substantive differences between the eighth edition and the online series. Some changes reflect new scientific evidence; others enhance clarity or make the material more useful for today’s students and teachers.
Engage with Brain Primers in the chapter order or begin with any topic of interest. The following BrainFacts resources can provide additional support:
- 3D Brain: Explore major brain structures in an interactive model.
- Glossary: Look up unfamiliar neuroscience terms.
- Latest Content: Follow new discoveries and developments in brain research.
- Neuroscience Core Concepts: Explore the eight foundational principles about the brain and nervous system.
BrainFacts’ Neuroscience Core Concepts
BrainFacts aims to build a bridge between you and the neuroscience community, empowering you to explore the ever‐expanding research world of the brain while celebrating our unique brains and diverse experiences.
Underpinning every new discovery are the concepts and principles that neuroscientists have established in more than a century of studying the brain. Neuroscientists from the Society for Neuroscience articulated these concepts more than two decades ago as Core Concepts — the eight ideas that people need to know about their brain and nervous system. Learn more about each of the eight core concepts:
Keep Exploring
Neuroscience is an evolving field. The Brain Primer series presents foundational knowledge while reflecting significant developments. Remember that scientific explanations can change when new evidence emerges. Brain Primers are reviewed by experts and have been updated since the eighth edition of the Brain Facts book printed in 2018.
Stay curious: Understanding the brain is not only the work of neuroscientists — it begins with anyone willing to explore the universe between their ears.
Adapted and updated from Brain Facts by the Society for Neuroscience. © 2026 Society for Neuroscience. All rights reserved in the new original material.
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