eNeuro

eNeuro. It is an official open-access journal of the Society for Neuroscience, launched in 2014 to provide a broad, high-quality venue for the rapidly expanding field. The journal publishes rigorously peer-reviewed research across all areas of neuroscience, from molecular and cellular mechanisms to systems, behavioral, and cognitive studies. Under the founding editorship of Christof Koch, it was established to embrace modern publishing practices, including transparent review and immediate public access to all published work.

History and background

The journal was conceived by the Society for Neuroscience leadership in the early 2010s to address the growing demand for a reputable, society-owned open-access option. Its establishment was influenced by the broader Open access movement and a desire to provide an alternative to traditional subscription models dominated by commercial publishers like Elsevier and Springer Nature. The inaugural editor-in-chief, Christof Koch, then of the Allen Institute for Brain Science, was appointed to shape its scientific vision and editorial standards. The first articles were published online in 2014, marking a significant commitment by the Society for Neuroscience to innovate in scientific communication, following the precedent set by other society journals such as those from the American Physiological Society.

Publication details

The journal operates on a continuous publication model, with articles posted online as soon as they are ready. It is published by the Society for Neuroscience and utilizes the online platform of the American Physiological Society for manuscript submission and hosting. All content is freely available under a Creative Commons Attribution License, allowing unrestricted reuse. The journal's ISSN is 2373-2822, and it is indexed in major databases including PubMed, PubMed Central, the Web of Science, and Scopus.

Scientific scope and impact

eNeuro covers the entire spectrum of neuroscience research. This includes, but is not limited to, studies in cellular neuroscience, systems neuroscience, cognitive neuroscience, computational neuroscience, neurological disorders, and neurodevelopment. The journal has published influential work on topics ranging from synaptic plasticity and neural circuits to the neural correlates of consciousness and mechanisms underlying Alzheimer's disease. Its impact is reflected in its growing citation metrics and its role in disseminating findings from major research initiatives like the BRAIN Initiative and the Human Connectome Project.

Editorial policies and practices

The journal employs a rigorous single-anonymized peer review process managed by an international board of academic editors. A key policy is the option for "transparent review," where authors can choose to publish the peer review history alongside their accepted manuscript. The editorial board, led by the editor-in-chief, includes prominent neuroscientists such as Diana Bautista and Michael Brecht. The journal adheres to the ethical guidelines set by organizations like the Committee on Publication Ethics and requires authors to detail statistical methods and share data in repositories like Dryad or Figshare.

Open access and funding model

As a full open-access journal, all research articles are immediately and permanently free to read, download, and distribute. The journal is sustained by article processing charges paid by authors or their institutions, with fee waivers available for researchers with financial hardships. This model is designed to cover the costs of publication while aligning with the open-science mission of the Society for Neuroscience. The journal's financial operations are distinct from the society's other publications, such as The Journal of Neuroscience.

Reception and recognition

Since its launch, eNeuro has been generally well-received within the neuroscience community as a credible and progressive publication venue. It has gained recognition for its commitment to open science and transparent editorial practices. The journal has been covered in scientific media outlets like Science Magazine and Nature News. While newer than established giants like Neuron or Nature Neuroscience, it has carved out a niche as a respected society journal that balances high standards with modern, accessible publishing.