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Studying the neural basis of
social & affective processes

The Social & Affective Neuroscience Society (SANS) is committed to research investigating the neural basis of social and affective processes. The Society was founded in 2008 and now comprises over 400 members. One of the main ways that SANS promotes social and affective neuroscience is by holding an annual meeting. 

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2026 Program Chairs

Introducing the Inaugural SANS Society Fellows

The Social and Affective Neuroscience Society is pleased to announce the inaugural class of SANS Fellows. This distinction recognizes members who have made exceptional contributions to the Society and to the field of social and affective neuroscience.

Meet our Fellow here
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Announcements

SANS 2027 Conference Logo Competition

Sep 23, 2026 |

The Social & Affective Neuroscience Society (SANS) is looking forward to our 2027 Annual Meeting in Montreal, Canada, a special milestone as we celebrate 20 years of SANS!

We are looking for a creative logo that captures the intersection of neuroscience and the vibrant, connected and distinctive feel of our host city.

The winning design will be the official face of the conference—featured on our website, program, and our online merch store.

Read competition details here

SANS Society Fellows Program — Nominations Now Open!

Sep 18, 2026 |

The Social and Affective Neuroscience Society is pleased to open nomination for the second year of the SANS Fellows program. The program honors the important contributions of our members to social and affective neuroscience.  It celebrates those who have helped move the field forward while providing Fellows with opportunities to further engage with members and Society leadership throughout the year and at the annual meeting.

We invite nominations from Society members, including self-nominations. Nominations will be reviewed by the Fellows Committee, who will recommend up to 10 candidates annually to the SANS Board of Directors.  Upon the Board approval, individuals are officially designated as SANS Fellows.

Find out more details on the Fellow Program HERE

Interested in becoming a social and affective neuroscience influencer?

Sep 14, 2026 |

SANS will soon be launching a new media initiative, in which we make short-form video content to reach a wider audience. If you’re interested in joining this initiative, please email us here:

Share Your News: SANS Social Media Spotlights


We’re excited to highlight accomplishments from across the SANS community. If you (or someone you know) has a recent paper, grant, award, or other recognition, send it our way using the Spotlight form below. Submissions may be featured on SANS social channels (Bluesky, Instagram, etc.) and in our member communications. Self-nominations and nominations are welcome. One person involved (you, your PI, or the nominee) must have an active SANS membership within the past 12 months.

Submit here

What is Social and Affective Neuroscience?

Social and affective neuroscience is an interdisciplinary field of research that seeks to understand phenomena such as group dynamics, interpersonal interactions, social communication, social cognition cooperation, and aggression in terms of interactions among three levels of analysis:

The social level, which pertains to the intrapersonal (cognitive), interpersonal, and inter-group factors that influence social behavior and experience

The affective level, which pertains to the emotional and motivational mechanisms that give rise to social phenomena

The neural level, which pertains to neural and hormonal mechanisms that give rise to social and affective processes

Social and affective neuroscience researchers conduct empirical studies, test hypotheses, and construct theories that consider all three levels of analysis. Research in the field also considers the development of neural processes that support social and affective processes; similarities and differences in social and affective phenomena across species; neurocomputational models that account for observed social and affective phenomena; and clinical and applied implications for typical and atypical social and affective outcomes.

Membership

Join SANS and enjoy many member benefits including reduced conference rates and the ability to vote on society business.

Awards

Learn about our society awards. Information about nominations, guidelines for submission, and a list of all current and previous winners.

Conference

Learn about our next conference to be held in-person in 2026! Information about key dates, submission guidelines and registration.