The septal area of the brain is part of the limbic system (that part of the brain concerned with emotion) and has a role in a number of important processes such as memory, cognition, and movement. It shares some similarity with the hippocampus, yet it remains a distinct area with unique properties. This book reviews our understanding of this area and shows how it fits into the general picture of those areas of the brain concerned with modulating mammalian behavior. The chapters, written by leading figures in behavioral neuroscience, review the anatomy, neurochemistry, physiology, and behavioral relations in the septal area.