Neuro Forum
Representing the newest addition to the journal, Neuro Forum is a place for brief reviews of recent, single target articles, and mini-reviews of current and significant developments in neurophysiology. The articles are authored by current students or postdoctoral fellows (faculty excluded). For single target article submissions, the target article may have been published in any journal within the past 3 months (at the time of submission). The target article will most typically be an exciting finding in some area of neurophysiology, broadly defined, but could also include work from other areas of neuroscience of compelling interest to neurophysiologists such as neuroanatomy, neurochemistry or neural computation. For mini-review submissions, significant advances in the field must have been published within the last year. Please see the Neuro Forum guidelines for details.
Research Articles
Research articles present important new research results including the entire contents of a research project. Research articles include an abstract, an introduction, methods and results sections, a discussion, and relevant citations. Large data sets are welcome for inclusion in the online publication. Articles are peer-reviewed.
Innovative Methodology
Research in physiology depends crucially on the development of new methods of data collection and analysis. Manuscripts submitted under this category should describe new methods for the recording, collection, and/or analysis of data relevant to understanding how the physiological system works. Manuscripts will be reviewed taking into consideration the following criteria:
- The novelty of the new method. Papers should not be minor incremental improvements of old methods, but have a real new component.
- The manuscript must describe the method in sufficient detail to enable others to implement or replicate the method or procedure.
- The manuscript should carefully describe the advantages and disadvantages of the new method, with its limitations and strengths laid out clearly for the reader.
- The manuscript must illustrate the use of the method to demonstrate that it actually works. It is not necessary to use the method in an extensive study of a biological problem, but a "proof of principle" demonstration is required. Where possible, the method should be applied to real physiological data.
- Manuscripts should be of the length required to meet these criteria. Extensive technical details, mathematical derivations, etc. can be placed into an Appendix if they will interrupt the flow of the manuscript but may be additionally helpful to others wishing to implement the technique.
Review Articles
Review articles provide synthesis of state-of-the-art knowledge in a defined area highlighting new questions and pointing to future research directions. They encompass examination of biological processes, systems, and models, and technologies for their study. The primary purpose is to educate readers by providing a comprehensive view of completed works presented in a concise, unified format; however, appropriate inclusion of unpublished data is permissible. Utilization of figures is encouraged. Typically, reviews are invited and all are peer-reviewed.
Editorials
Editorials provide commentary by the Editor, Associate Editors, and other scientists and experts on issues related to the Journal's mission as well as of general interest to our readers. Unsolicited editorials will be considered for publication. Acceptance will reside with the editors.
Editorial Focus
Editorial Focus articles are commentaries on papers of unusual interest published in the journal that were chosen by the Editor to be highlighted by a brief Editorial Focus commentary. They should describe the most important conclusions of the paper; place the paper into context with the current state-of-the-art; highlight controversial issues; when relevant, denote strengths and weaknesses of the paper; and review questions that remain to be addressed.
Letters to the Editor
Letters, including an informative title, should be short, approximately one journal column (500 words). Letters are reviewed by the appropriate editor and subject to editing and possible abridgment. Letters to the Editor should not include original, unpublished data. If a letter is found acceptable, a copy will be sent to the author of the original article, if applicable; that author will have an opportunity to provide a rebuttal with new material that will be considered for publication with the letter. Letters to the Editor may also simply address matters of general interest to the readership.
Categories
Various article types can be published under the following Categories, or headings:
Calls for Papers
Calls for Papers will have headings that change depending on the topic. Manuscripts of any type may be submitted in response to an announced Call for Papers. These manuscripts are peer reviewed, and are published together under the topic heading.
Special Sections
Manuscripts of any type may be submitted to one of these Special Sections.
Historical Articles
Manuscripts on the history of physiology may be submitted to the Editor.