Journal profile · Behavioral Sciences
Behavior Genetics
ISSN 0001-8244 · eISSN 1573-3297 · Springer US · UNITED STATES · Bimonthly · Founded 1970
Behavior Genetics: CAS Zone 3 · Medicine (2025 upgraded edition); impact factor 2.25; hybrid open access; APC about USD 3,390; median 174 days to acceptance (75 articles, last 24 months); community-reported acceptance: fairly easy; 35 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE, SSCI and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Behavior Genetics is published by Springer US and is in Zone 3 of Medicine in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Cognitive Abilities and Testing, Genetic Mapping and Diversity in Plants and Animals and Genetic Associations and Epidemiology, together about 34% of its articles. Its main subfields are Genetics. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
Behavior Genetics is a leading international journal dedicated to advancing our understanding of how genetic and genomic processes shape behavior across humans and other species. As the field rapidly evolves, the journal serves as a central forum for innovative, rigorous, and interdisciplinary research at the intersection of genetics, behavior, and the social and biological sciences. We publish high-impact original research, reviews, brief reports, perspectives, didactic contributions (“Teacher’s Corner”), and letters that push the boundaries of the field. We particularly welcome submissions that introduce novel data, methods, biomarkers, or integrative approaches supported by strong empirical evidence. The journal embraces a broad and evolving scope, including: Genetic and genomic influences on behavioral traits across the lifespan and across species Developmental and longitudinal approaches to behavioral genetics Advances in statistical and computational methods for complex traits Genome-wide association studies, polygenic scores, rare variant analyses, and family-based designs (including twin, adoption, and within-family approaches) Epigenetic approaches for understanding individual differences in behavior Evolutionary and population-genetic perspectives on behavior Integrative and interdisciplinary research linking genetics with psychology, neuroscience, epidemiology, and related fields While all rigorous approaches are considered, submissions should offer clear methodological, empirical, or theoretical advances beyond existing published datasets when used in isolation. We are especially interested in work that advances theory, improves causal inference, or meaningfully connects genetic findings to behavioral, developmental, or societal outcomes. Mendelian randomization analyses based entirely on published datasets will not be prioritized for publication unless they contain additional analyses, such as replication in a separate sample. All Mendelian randomization papers should conform with the Strobe Criteria. Review articles are strongly encouraged, particularly those that provide authoritative, forward-looking syntheses of emerging areas. We welcome proposals for special issues on emerging topics that align with the goals of the journal. Behavior Genetics is published in cooperation with the Behavior Genetics Association and provides a global platform for research and topics that shape the future of the field.
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Behavioral Sciences
Editorial board by country: none in mainland China; most named United States 47, Netherlands 6, Australia 5, United Kingdom 3, Canada 3 (71 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Cognitive Abilities and TestingPsychology16.3%
- Genetic Mapping and Diversity in Plants and AnimalsBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology8.8%
- Genetic Associations and EpidemiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology8.8%
- Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional DevelopmentPsychology5.6%
- Plant and animal studiesAgricultural and Biological Sciences5.4%
- Animal Behavior and ReproductionAgricultural and Biological Sciences5%
- Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestockBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology4.9%
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology ResearchNeuroscience4.1%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Medicine Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Medicine | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Behavioral Sciences | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Genetics & Heredity | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Psychology, Multidisciplinary | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Medicine Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Medicine | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Behavioral Sciences | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Genetics & Heredity | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Psychology, Multidisciplinary | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Medicine Zone 4
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Medicine | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Genetics & Heredity | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Behavioral Sciences | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Psychology, Multidisciplinary | Zone 4 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
Database indexing
SCIESSCIScopusLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Indexing the journal's website claims
MEDLINEEmbasePsycINFOERIH PLUSCurrent ContentsPublisher website
Other: Google Scholar, EBSCO, ProQuest, Dimensions, CNKI, Baidu, Naver, OCLC, Portico, CLOCKSS
As the journal's website lists them, not checked against each database; for Web of Science editions the records above apply.
Editions, and major and minor categories, are shown separately and never merged into one zone; check which edition your institution uses before you submit or report.
Metrics
Impact metrics and publication volume
Impact
- Impact factor
- 2.25LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher) 2025
- 2.4Publisher website ·
- 5-year impact factor (publisher) 2025
- 2.4Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 4LetPub ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 0.8LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 0.84LetPub ·
- h-index
- 87LetPub ·
- h-index
- 148OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 2,062OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 1.43OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 8.3%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 55.06%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 29LetPub ·
- Downloads per year (publisher) 2025
- 350,200Publisher website ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 3,360 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 40 | 35 | 11 |
| 2025 | 35 | 29 | 62 |
| 2024 | 42 | 30 | 94 |
| 2023 | 39 | 29 | 319 |
| 2022 | 36 | 28 | 351 |
| 2021 | 76 | 37 | 878 |
Sources count differently and were observed at different times, so each source's own value is kept; "publisher" marks figures from the journal's website.
Review & acceptance
Review time and acceptance
Review time from article dates manuscript dates registered with Crossref · to
174 daysMedian, submission to acceptance · P25–P75 122 days – 289 days
- Acceptance to online
- median 23 days (75 articles)
- Submission to online
- median 201 days
- Sample
- 75 articles with submission and acceptance dates (87 in the window); the latest was accepted on
Only articles that were accepted and published are counted, not the time spent on rejected manuscripts, so this usually runs longer than a publisher's "time to first decision".
Other sources
- Average review time (community reports)
- 6–12 weeksLetPub ·
- Average acceptance (community reports)
- Fairly easyLetPub ·
- Submission to first decision
- 9 daysPublisher website ·
- Peer review
- Double anonymous peer reviewPublisher website
Community reports come from authors' own submissions (confidence 0.5) and are not a promise from the journal; for publisher figures, the journal's own definitions apply.
Fees & open access
APC and open-access policy
Hybrid open accessLetPub
A subscription journal in which authors can pay to publish their article open access.
| Source | APC | Fee waiver | License | Observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenAlex | USD 3,390 / EUR 2,790 / GBP 2,490 | — | — |
A hybrid journal charges the APC only when the author chooses open access; publishing under the subscription model is usually free.
The journal's website is authoritative for fees; sources were observed at different times and each keeps its own value, without averaging.
Submission
Article types and submission policies (journal website)
Open calls for papers1, by deadline
Publisher websiteWhat to prepare6 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- 150–250 words
- Keywords
- ≥ 4
- Reference style
- Author–date
- First submission
- Free format: the journal's layout is not required
- Suggested reviewers
- Optional
- Cover letter
- Optional
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Authorship, Conflicts of interest, Data availability, License & copyright, Open access, Peer review, Trial registration / reporting guidelines
- AI use Generative AI Images
LLMs do not satisfy authorship criteria; use of LLMs must be documented in the Methods section. Model summary
Please check Springer’s policy on generative AI images and make sure your work adheres to the principles described therein. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Authorship Authorship principles
These guidelines describe authorship principles and good authorship practices to which prospective authors should adhere to. Authorship clarified The Journal and Publisher assume all authors agreed with the content and that all gave explicit consent to submit and that they obtained consent from the responsible authorities at the institute/organization where the work has been carried out, before th…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Conflicts of interest Disclosures and declarations
Authors must disclose financial or non-financial competing interests. Model summary
All authors are requested to include information regarding sources of funding, financial or non-financial interests, study-specific approval by the appropriate ethics committee for research involving humans and/or animals, informed consent if the research involved human participants, and a statement on welfare of animals if the research involved animals (as appropriate). The decision whether such …
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Data availability Data availability statements
All original research must include a data availability statement explaining how to access supporting data. Model summary
All original research must include a data availability statement. This statement should explain how to access data supporting the results and analysis in the article, including links/citations to publicly archived datasets analysed or generated during the study. Please see our full policy here. If it is not possible to share research data publicly, for instance when individual privacy could be com…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- License & copyright Copyright
Open Choice articles do not require transfer of copyright as the copyright remains with the author. In opting for open access, the author(s) agree to publish the article under a Creative Commons license. Details of the OA licences offered to authors can be found on the individual journal website, in the journal's How to publish with us guide. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access Open access publishing
To find out more about publishing your work Open Access in Behavior Genetics, including information on fees, funding and licences, visit our Open access publishing page. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Peer review
Authors may suggest 3 to 5 potential reviewers. Model summary
Behavior Genetics also invites authors to include in the cover letter or related files of their submission the names, affiliations, and contact information for 3 to 5 potential reviewers with appropriate expertise to review their submission.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Trial registration / reporting guidelines Clinical Trial Registration
The World Health Organization (WHO) definition of a clinical trial is "any research study that prospectively assigns human participants or groups of humans to one or more health-related interventions to evaluate the effects on health outcomes". The WHO defines health interventions as “A health intervention is an act performed for, with or on behalf of a person or population whose purpose is to ass…
Source ↗Publisher website ·
Excerpts are quoted from the journal's website; "model summary" lines are written by Workers AI and checked against the text. The journal's website is authoritative.
Profile
Publication details and official links
- Publisher
- Springer US
- Country or region
- UNITED STATES
- Language
- English
- Frequency
- Bimonthly
- Founded
- 1970
- ISSN
- 0001-8244
- Electronic ISSN
- 1573-3297
- Society / sponsor
- Behavior Genetics Association
- Latest issue on the website
- Volume 56, Issue 5 (September 2026)
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗OpenAlex
- Submission system ↗LetPub
- Author guidelines ↗LetPub
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Behavior Genetics
What CAS zone is Behavior Genetics in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Behavior Genetics is in Zone 3 of Medicine, and in Zone 3 of the minor category Behavioral Sciences / Genetics & Heredity / Psychology, Multidisciplinary. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 3 of Medicine. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of Behavior Genetics?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 2.25; CiteScore 4, h-index 148.
How long does peer review take at Behavior Genetics?
Based on the dates recorded on 75 articles published between October 2024 and October 2026 (the last 24 months), the median time from submission to acceptance is 174 days (interquartile range 122–289 days); authors report an average review time of 6–12 weeks; the community-reported acceptance is “Fairly easy”. Article statistics cover accepted papers only, publisher figures follow the journal's own definitions, and community reports come from authors' own submissions; none is a promise from the journal.
What are the manuscript requirements of Behavior Genetics?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: 150–250 words; Keywords: ≥ 4; Reference style: Author–date; First submission: Free format: the journal's layout is not required; Suggested reviewers: Optional; Cover letter: Optional. A model extracted these from the author guidelines and each was checked against the text; check the latest version on the journal's website before submitting.
Where are the editorial board members of Behavior Genetics based?
Of the 71 board members whose country the journal's board page names, none are in mainland China; the countries named most often are United States (47), Netherlands (6) and Australia (5). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Behavior Genetics?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Behavior Genetics is indexed in SCIE, SSCI and Scopus. The journal's website also lists MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, ERIH PLUS and Current Contents; that list has not been checked against each database.
Is Behavior Genetics open access, and what is the APC?
Behavior Genetics is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 3,390.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, OpenAlex, Publisher website; every figure is tagged with its source and the date it was observed, and conflicting values are kept per source. LetPub source page: view ↗ (archived 2026-08-26). Last updated: .