by Neuroscience is a fascinating field of scientific study, that covers the scientific study of the nervous system including the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nervous system and its extensive functions. In this post, I will recommend you five best neuroscience textbooks for students and scientists who are seeking for understanding the subject accordingly, and for professionals to practice complex subject topics in a simple and effective way to present concepts before their students.
Best Neuroscience Textbooks
| Book Name & Author | Image | Rating | Price |
| Principles of Neural Science by Eric Kandel, John D. Koester, Sarah H. Mack, Steven Siegelbaum |   |
9.5 | View on Amazon |
| Theoretical Neuroscience: Computational and Mathematical Modeling of Neural Systems by Peter Dayan & Laurence F. Abbott |   |
9.3 | View on Amazon |
| Netter’s Atlas of Neuroscience (Netter Basic Science) by David L. Felten MD Ph.D., Michael K. O’Banion M.D. Ph.D., Mary Summo Maida Ph.D. |   |
9.4 | View on Amazon |
| Neuroscience by Dale Purves (Editor) |   |
9.4 | View on Amazon |
| Neuroscience: Exploring the Brain by Mark Bear, Barry Connors, Michael A. Paradiso |   |
9.3 | View on Amazon |
| Brain & Behavior: An Introduction to Behavioral Neuroscience by Bob Garrett & Gerald Hough |   |
9.3 | View on Amazon |
| Behavioral Neuroscience by S. Marc Breedlove & Neil V. Watson |   |
9.4 | View on Amazon |
1. Principles of Neural Science
Principles of Neural Science has helped readers understand the link between the human brain and behavior. The worldwide renowned neuroscience textbook presents that all behavior is an expression of neural activity and the future of both clinical neurology and psychiatry is dependent on the progress of neural science. This edition comes with a fully updated and landmark reference that reflects the latest research, clinical perspectives, and advances in the field. It offers an unparalleled perspective on the current state and future of neural science.
The textbook will benefit you from a cohesive organization, beginning with an insightful overview of the interrelationships between the brain, nervous system, genes, and behavior.
You will find an overall perspective that provides an overview of the broad themes of neural science, including the basic anatomical organization of the nervous system and the genetic bases of nervous system function and behavior.
Synaptic transmission focuses on the electrophysiological and molecular mechanism of synaptic transmission with chapters on neuronal excitability, neurotransmitters, and transmitter release.
And finally, it explores the neural mechanisms underlying diseases and disorders of the nervous system, including autism spectrum disorder, epilepsy, schizophrenia, and anxiety.
This new edition features:
- Unmatched coverage of how the nerves, brain, and mind function.
- The computational bases of neural circuits that mediate behavior-brain-machine interfaces, decision-making, and consciousness.
- The neuroscientific principles underlying the disorders of the nervous system.
- The coverage of the different forms of human memory.
- Highly detailed chapters on stroke, Parkinson’s disease, and multiple sclerosis.
- 2,200 images, including 300 new color illustrations, diagrams, radiology studies, and PET scans.
2. Theoretical Neuroscience: Computational and Mathematical Modeling of Neural Systems
Theoretical neuroscience provides a quantitative basis for describing what nervous systems do, determining how they function and uncovering the general principles by which they operate. This text introduces the basic mathematical and computational methods of theoretical neuroscience and presents applications in a variety of areas including vision, sensory-motor integration, development, learning, and memory.
The book is divided into three parts. Part I discusses the relationship between sensory stimuli and neural responses, focusing on the representation of information by the spiking activity of neurons.
Part II discusses the modeling of neurons and neural circuits on the basis of cellular and synaptic biophysics.
Part III analyzes the role of plasticity in development and learning. An appendix covers the mathematical methods used, and exercises are available on the book’s Web site.
It will not be surprising if this book becomes the standard text for students and researchers entering theoretical neuroscience for years to come.
“Theoretical Neuroscience marks a milestone in the scientific maturation of integrative neuroscience. In the last decade, computational and mathematical modeling has developed into an integral part of the field, and now you finally have a textbook that reflects the changes in the way our science is being done. It will be a standard source of knowledge for the coming generation of students, both theoretical and experimental.”
3. Netter’s Atlas of Neuroscience (Netter Basic Science)
This is an ideal textbook for students of neuroscience and neuroanatomy, this latest edition of Netter’s Atlas of Neuroscience combines the didactic well-loved illustrations of Dr. Frank Netter with succinct text and clinical points, providing a highly visual, clinically oriented guide to the most important topics in this subject.
The logically organized content presents neuroscience from three perspectives: an overview of the nervous system, regional neuroscience, and systemic neuroscience, enabling you to review complex neural structures and systems from different contexts.
You may also be interested in a companion set of flashcards, Netter’s Neuroscience Flash Cards to which the textbook is cross-referenced.
The coverage of both regional and systemic neurosciences allows you to learn structure and function in different and important contexts. It combines the precision and beauty of Netter and Netter-style illustrations to highlight key neuroanatomical concepts and clinical correlations.
The text reflects the current understanding of the neural components and supportive tissue, regions, and systems of the brain, spinal cord, and periphery. It has uniquely informative drawings that provide a quick and memorable overview of anatomy, function, and clinical relevance.
A succinct and useful format utilizes tables and short text to offer easily accessible “at-a-glance” information. The book provides an overview of the basic features of the spinal cord, brain, and peripheral nervous system, the vasculature, meninges, and cerebrospinal fluid, and basic development.
4. Neuroscience
This comprehensive textbook provides a balance of animal and human studies to discuss the dynamic field of neuroscience from cellular signaling to cognitive function. The book’s length and accessible writing style make it suitable for both medical students and undergraduate neuroscience courses.
It explains the principles of neuroscience in satisfying detail and contains numerous invaluable illustrations. However, the chapter on nerve circuit development as it relates to sex differences caved and depended on Fausto-Sterling’s absurd definition of intersex. One can only hope that by the time the next edition comes out we will have moved back to a place where our medical school textbooks adhere to the scientific method and not ideological whimsy.
This book provides the next level of details for the material covered by the course. Following the syllabus of the course, using this book for the details, managed to follow through the course until now. Hope to finish the course and the book in another few months. This book is easy to read and understand as the author is very concise and clear while providing accommodating examples.
In this book, the author considers the body as a whole when presenting the nervous system and the brain in great detail. One of the authors, Leonard E. White, Ph.D., teaches a massive course on Medical Neuroscience, given on Coursera for a very small price.
5. Neuroscience: Exploring the Brain
The text is acclaimed for its clear, friendly style, excellent illustrations, leading author team, and compelling theme of exploration, Neuroscience: Exploring the Brain. It takes a fresh, contemporary approach to the study of neuroscience, emphasizing the biological basis of behavior. The author’s passion for the dynamic field of neuroscience is evident on every page, engaging students and helping them master the material.
In just a few years, the field of neuroscience has been transformed by exciting new technologies and an explosion of knowledge about the brain. The human genome has been sequenced, sophisticated new methods have been developed for genetic engineering, and new methods have been introduced to enable visualization and stimulation of specific types of nerve cells and connections in the brain.
The new edition has been fully updated to reflect these and other rapid advances in the field while honoring its commitment to be student-friendly with striking new illustrations, additional animations, and an unparalleled array of online resources.
The classic textbook is a path of discovery boxes by leading experts in the field (including Nobel Prize winners) who showcase actual research experiences, illuminating real-life paths to scientific discovery.
Illustrations and animations make complex concepts easier to understand. A neuroanatomy atlas provides large images that highlight the anatomy of the brain, along with a self-quiz that gives students an opportunity to check their understanding. The special interest boxes provide interesting facts and topics that connect theory with real-life neuroscience applications. Brain food boxes provide additional information on key topics.
6. Brain & Behavior: An Introduction to Behavioral Neuroscience
You can ignite your excitement about behavioral neuroscience with Brain & Behavior: An Introduction to Behavioral Neuroscience. Garrett and Hough make the field accessible by inviting readers to explore key theories and scientific discoveries using detailed illustrations and immersive examples as their guide. Spotlights on case studies, current events, and research findings help readers make connections between the material and their own lives. A study guide, revised artwork, new animations, and an accompanying interactive eBook stimulate deep learning and critical thinking.
Each chapter tells a story that the students can follow in a very systematic way with good flow in the writing style. In Perspective sections which provide current research insight for students wishing to enter the field.
The book really engages the students to look over the supplemental materials and get the most out of their learning experience.
The current events and supplemental information that makes you think and incites critical thinking really put this book at an advantage. Concept checks and other things that allow you to go beyond the scope of what is presented are a plus, and there is a myriad of supplemental options for the student who may not comprehend it as much as others.
7. Behavioral Neuroscience
Instructors of behavioral neuroscience are faced with the challenge of how to teach the course’s complex material in an accessible and relatable, yet comprehensive way for undergraduate students. For more than twenty years, Breedlove and Watson’s Behavioral Neuroscience has successfully solved these problems by presenting the most current, definitive, clear, and authoritative introduction to the field.
Using stellar examples of today’s most exciting research, an unparalleled art program that clarifies even complex biological processes, visual summaries to remind students of the principle findings presented in each chapter, and a comprehensive suite of digital support tools including animations with built-in assessments that help test the student’s knowledge of biological and behavioral processes and neuroanatomy.
Behavioral Neuroscience provides a strong foundation upon which clinical psychology students can build their understanding of cognitive, emotional, and physical functional correlates so important for their future clinical profession.
Behavioral Neuroscience covers topics regarding the brain and nervous system with lucid explanations and figures. The accompanying supplemental materials are a tremendous asset in augmenting the students’ mastery of the material. The text is straightforward, clear, and useful to both instructors and students from many disciplines.
This comprehensive text makes neuroscience accessible to a wide range of students. It engages students with cutting-edge neuroscientific research findings and research methodology behind the biological basis of behavior. The breadth of topics, beautiful illustrations, and organization provide students with a solid understanding of neuroscience and the biological bases of behavior.