Start with the submission package
Prepare the scientific report, supporting evidence and author information before opening the submission form. You can save a draft and return to it. Initial submission is for editorial and peer assessment; final typesetting files are requested during production.
- Choose the article type. Check the limits below and the aims and scope. A Methodology Paper can address any area within the health-related scope.
- Write a complete report. Follow the author guidelines and the reporting checklist for your study design. Report enough methods, results and limitations for independent assessment.
- Prepare two sets of information. Keep the review manuscript and supplements anonymous. Enter the complete author list online and place identifying title information and declarations with the confidential cover letter, using the cover_letter file designation.
- Assemble the evidence. Check figures, tables, supplementary files, protocol/registration, data and code access, permissions and declarations.
- Inspect the current preview. Generate and approve the submission PDF, complete the required confirmations and retain the receipt/NS-ID. A saved draft is not a submitted manuscript.
Article types at a glance
All seven open types currently require an abstract of 50–250 words and 5–8 keywords in the workspace. Main-text limits exclude the abstract, references, legends, tables and supplements. Figure/table allowances are combined. Follow the type-specific structure and complete reporting requirements, not only the word limit.
Read article types and limits and type-specific preparation instructions. Explain a requested exception to the editor. Editorials and Letters to the Editor are editor-restricted formats.
What to upload
Keep the main file single-column and readable, with page numbers and line numbers where supported. Initial figures and tables may be embedded. Separate high-quality artwork and editable sources can be requested later. The current submission-PDF generator accepts a DOCX/PDF source up to 20 MiB. Put large datasets and code in a repository and provide the link; ask the office about required files the workspace cannot handle.
Download preparation templates
Use these optional Word files to structure your work. Remove all prompts and unused placeholders before upload and follow the limits for your selected type.
- Research manuscript template — DOCX: original research, methods papers and brief reports.
- Review manuscript template — DOCX: systematic or narrative review preparation.
- Confidential editor packet — DOCX: cover letter, title/author information and identifying declarations.
- Response to reviewers template — DOCX: revision response and locations of changes.
Also use the research reporting worksheet. Templates provide prompts; they do not establish ethical approval, data access or compliance with a study-specific reporting standard.
Find the preparation detail you need
- Text and metadata: title and authors, abstract and keywords, main text, references with examples.
- Displays and supporting files: figures and image resolution, editable tables and equations, supplement numbering and file checks.
- Research evidence: design-specific reporting, statistics and reproducibility, data, code and materials.
- Declarations and confidentiality: statement examples, anonymous review preparation, cover letter and reviewer preferences.
The five submission steps
The current workspace asks for Article → Details → Authors → Files → Review and submit. Enter the selected type/title, abstract and declarations, complete author list, and the files with correct designations. The final step assembles the submission summary and private author PDF for your approval.
Check the author list, text, figures and tables in the generated PDF. Changes to source files or metadata may require a new preview and approval. The private author preview is separate from the anonymized manuscript supplied for review. Keep the confirmation and use the existing record for correspondence and revisions. If an action fails, check whether the record already exists before starting again.
Read the online submission instructions · Complete the final submission checklist.
After submission, revision and publication
The office checks completeness and scope, and editors assess whether the manuscript should proceed to independent review. An editorial request or reviewer invitation is not acceptance. Peer review and selection explains the process. No fixed turnaround is guaranteed; the metrics page identifies the pre-launch status.
For a revision, use the existing record and supply a clean manuscript, a marked version when requested, updated supporting files and a point-by-point response. Locate every change by section/page/line, and explain scientifically when no change was made. Follow the decision-letter deadline or request an extension before it expires.
After acceptance, provide editable final files, restored author/declaration information, production artwork, permissions and final repository links when requested. Check the complete proof and answer all production queries before approval. Publication follows the relevant editorial, rights and proof checks; an accepted manuscript or generated PDF is not yet a published article.
Revision instructions · Final production files · Proof corrections · Appeals.
Rights, fees and author responsibilities
Authors retain copyright; published articles use CC BY 4.0, with clearly identified third-party exclusions where applicable. Check permissions, participant consent, funding, competing interests, contributions and availability statements before submitting.
The current waiver covers submissions received through 31 December 2026, including eligible manuscripts accepted later. The planned April 2027 collection does not extend that deadline. APC invoicing occurs only after acceptance. Read the full terms, including the estimated post-waiver fee and treatment of earlier written commitments.
Publication fees and waivers · Copyright and licensing · Research integrity · Competing interests.
Common preparation questions
Do I need to format the manuscript like a published article?
No. Use a readable single-column report with complete methods, references, legends and supporting evidence. Templates are optional. Final production files can be requested later.
Where should I put author names and the title page?
Enter the complete author list online. Place identifying title information and declarations with the confidential cover letter in an editor packet designated cover_letter. Keep review-facing files anonymous and restore full publication information when requested.
Can I submit a PDF or a methods paper outside neuroscience?
The current main-file upload accepts DOCX or PDF; DOCX is preferred as an editable source. Methods papers may address any topic within the health-related scope, including surgery, biotechnology and computational research.
What if the submission PDF is incomplete or submission fails?
Check the source and metadata, correct them and generate a new preview before approval. Check for an existing record or receipt before making another submission. If the problem persists, send the NS-ID and visible error to the editorial office.
See the full author FAQ. For an unresolved question, contact editorial@neuscience.org with your NS-ID when one exists. Do not send passwords or identifiable research data by email.