Updated April 2024
JNeurosci is now welcoming proposals on special collections related to a common topic. Typically, these collections will encompass 4–8 articles related to a clearly defined and focused topic. Articles may be regular manuscripts (i.e., original research reports), any feature article type (e.g., Reviews, Viewpoints, etc.), or any mixture of both. All article types will follow the format outlined in JNeurosci’s Information for Authors.
Special collections will be organized and led by 1–3 guest editors who will invite and oversee peer review of the articles. All articles will undergo standard peer review following the journal’s policies and will be published together in the same issue of JNeurosci.
Organizing a special collection will require submission of an initial presubmission inquiry to receive preliminary editorial approval. The prospective guest editor should email [email protected] with the following information in a single document:
- Title and topic of special collection.
- List of tentative contributors and/or specific topics and article types.
- One-page outline of the collection describing how the different contributions relate to one another.
- Statement of significance: Why this collection and its topics are timely, significant, and of interest to a broad readership. The editors are particularly looking for work that crosses disciplinary boundaries and will be of interest to several subdisciplines from the field of neuroscience; please list the ones that will apply to your collection.
- Description of guest editor's expertise: A brief summary of how the prospective guest editor has contributed to the proposed collection topic. Include a list of 3–5 recent publications reflecting their expertise in the area.
- If possible, any member(s) of the Editorial Board particularly well qualified to evaluate the scientific merit of the collection.
After preliminary editorial approval has been received, the guest editor will have 2–3 months to confirm participation by the contributing authors, collect titles and draft abstracts for each article, and develop a timeline for manuscript preparation, submission, and peer review. This information is required before final approval of the collection. JNeurosci’s Editor-in-Chief, Feature Editor, and Editorial Board, as well as Central Office staff, will provide support in developing the timeline and throughout the submission and review process.