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Frontiers in Human Neuroscience is a peer-reviewed, open-access journal published by Frontiers Media SA that bridges psychology and human neurobiology. For researchers evaluating target submission venues or citing its literature, this guide profiles the journal’s scope, impact metrics, article-processing charges (APCs), and collaborative peer review model.
What Frontiers in Human Neuroscience is
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience (Electronic ISSN: 1662-5161) publishes empirical and theoretical research investigating the brain mechanisms underlying human cognition, perception, and behavior. The journal operates under a pure gold open access model: all articles are published under a Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), allowing immediate unrestricted reading, download, and reuse. Authors retain full copyright.
The journal is indexed across major bibliographic and citation databases:
- PubMed Central (PMC) and PubMed / MEDLINE: Full texts are archived and indexed.
- Web of Science (SCIE): Indexed in the Science Citation Index Expanded under Neurosciences and Psychology.
- Scopus: Bibliographic indexing with active CiteScore tracking.
- Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ): Certified open-access compliance.
- Embase and Google Scholar: Global biomedical discovery.
Who runs it and what it covers
The journal is led by Field Chief Editors Srikantan S. Nagarajan (University of California, San Francisco) and Jessica A. Turner (The Ohio State University). Operational and publishing infrastructure is managed by Frontiers Media SA in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Editorial scope is organized into nine specialty sections:
- Brain Health and Clinical Neuroscience: Neurological disorders, neurorehabilitation, and clinical biomarkers.
- Brain Imaging and Stimulation: Methodological advances in fMRI, PET, EEG, MEG, TMS, and tES.
- Brain-Computer Interfaces: Neural prosthetics, signal decoding, and translational BCI systems.
- Cognitive Neuroscience: Neural substrates of memory, attention, decision-making, and executive control.
- Motor Neuroscience: Motor control circuits, sensorimotor integration, and biomechanics.
- Sensory Perceptual Neuroscience: Visual, auditory, olfactory, and multisensory processing.
- Social and Affective Neurosciences: Emotion regulation, empathy, and social interaction.
- Speech and Language: Neural networks of phonology, syntax, semantics, and language pathologies.
- Human Neuroscience Archive: Preserved historic specialty sections.
Methodologically, studies frequently involve neuroimaging paradigms. Researchers comparing imaging trade-offs, such as EEG vs MEG temporal-spatial precision or running diffusion tensor imaging tractography, publish regularly in these sections.
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience impact factor and citation metrics
Bibliometric performance is tracked across standard indexers:
- Journal Impact Factor (JIF): 3.6 (Clarivate Journal Citation Reports). Reflects average annual citations to articles published in the prior two years.
- Scopus CiteScore: 5.9. Tracks citations across a four-year calculation window.
- Quartile Standing: Positioned in Q2 across both Neurosciences and Psychology categories.
Article-processing charges (APC) by submission type
As a gold open-access journal without subscription paywalls, publication costs are covered via author-facing Article Processing Charges (APCs) upon acceptance:
| Article Tier | Article Types Included | Fee (CHF) |
|---|---|---|
| Type A | Original Research, Systematic Review, Methods, Review, Technology and Code, Hypothesis and Theory, Clinical Trial | 3,150 CHF |
| Type B | Brief Research Report, Perspective, Mini Review | 2,500 CHF |
| Type C | Editorial, Correction | 0 CHF (Free) |
Institutional memberships across more than 800 partner institutions may cover APC fees. Authors in lower-income countries can request waivers through the Frontiers Fee Support Program prior to submission.
How to search or use it
Authors and readers engage with the platform via the Frontiers portal and integrated Loop research profiles.
Author submission and review steps
- Access the Submission Portal: Locate the Submit link on the journal homepage and authenticate via a Frontiers Loop account.
- Designate Section and Article Type: Select the applicable specialty section and article type (Type A or B) to establish formatting and APC parameters.
- Provide Manuscript Files: Upload text files, high-resolution figures, supplementary data, conflict statements, and institutional ethics committee approvals.
- Independent Review Evaluation: The handling Associate Editor assigns expert reviewers who complete independent structured assessment reports.
- Engage in the Interactive Review Forum: The editor activates the interactive online forum, allowing authors and reviewers to converse directly and resolve queries.
- Endorsement and Production: Upon final reviewer endorsement and editorial sign-off, proofs are validated and published online.
Literature search and reader access
Readers can query the search bar on the journal site by keyword or author. Content is also curated into Research Topics—thematic collections centered on emerging neuroscientific problems.
Strengths and limits
Prospective authors should balance several operational attributes when evaluating the journal.
Strengths
- Interactive Review Forum: Direct author-reviewer dialogue clarifies questions efficiently. Read more on Frontiers collaborative peer review and institutional governance in is Frontiers peer reviewed.
- Open Attribution: Endorsing reviewers and handling editors are publicly named on accepted papers, ensuring accountability.
- Open Access and Indexing: Immediate global availability under CC BY 4.0 with full indexing across PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science.
- Rapid Publication Times: Collaborative digital review generally achieves faster decisions than conventional subscription models.
Limits
- Significant APC Fees: Standard Type A fees of 3,150 CHF present hurdles for researchers without institutional funding.
- Human-Focus Constraint: Pure animal studies lacking clear translational relevance to human cognition are referred out to titles like Frontiers in Physiology.
- High Volume: Broad publication output requires authors to actively promote their articles to ensure field visibility.
Alternatives
Researchers in cognitive neuroscience and neuroimaging have several alternative journals to consider. The table below compares key peer titles.
| Journal | Publisher | Model | Impact Factor | APC Fee | Core Focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frontiers in Human Neuroscience | Frontiers Media SA | Gold OA (CC BY 4.0) | 3.6 | 3,150 CHF | Human brain function, cognitive neuroscience, neuroimaging, BCIs. |
| NeuroImage | Elsevier | Gold OA | 4.7 | $3,450 USD | Neuroimaging methodology, fMRI/PET modeling, structural brain mapping. |
| Cerebral Cortex | Oxford University Press | Hybrid OA | 3.7 | $3,940 USD / Sub | Cerebral cortex organization, development, and cortical microcircuits. |
| Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience | MIT Press | Hybrid OA | 2.8 | $3,200 USD / Sub | Mind-brain interactions, psychological models, and cognitive processes. |
| Brain and Behavior | Wiley | Gold OA | 2.6 | $2,950 USD | Interdisciplinary clinical neurology, psychiatry, and behavioral neuroscience. |
FAQ
What is the impact factor of Frontiers in Human Neuroscience?
The journal holds an Impact Factor of 3.6 (Clarivate Journal Citation Reports) and a Scopus CiteScore of 5.9, placing it in quartile Q2 across Neurosciences and Psychology.
Is Frontiers in Human Neuroscience indexed in PubMed and Web of Science?
Yes. The journal is indexed in PubMed Central, MEDLINE, Web of Science (SCIE), Scopus, and DOAJ, satisfying funder open-access compliance mandates.
How much does it cost to publish in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience?
Type A articles cost 3,150 CHF upon acceptance, Type B articles cost 2,500 CHF, and Type C items are free. Institutional membership agreements and fee assistance programs are available.
How does the collaborative peer review model operate?
Following independent reviewer reports, an online Interactive Review Forum allows direct dialogue between authors and reviewers. Upon acceptance, reviewer names are published on the article.
Can animal research be published in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience?
Only if the study has direct translational relevance to human brain mechanics. Basic animal studies without human translation are directed to other Frontiers journals such as Frontiers in Physiology.
Sources
- Frontiers Media SA. (2026). Frontiers in Human Neuroscience: Scope, Editorial Board, and Overview. Retrieved November 9, 2026, from https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/human-neuroscience
- Frontiers Media SA. (2026). Frontiers in Human Neuroscience Specialty Sections. Retrieved November 9, 2026, from https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/human-neuroscience/sections
- Frontiers Media SA. (2026). Frontiers Publishing Fees and APC Schedule. Retrieved November 9, 2026, from https://www.frontiersin.org/guidelines/publishing-fees
- Frontiers Media SA. (2026). Collaborative Review Guidelines for Authors. Retrieved November 9, 2026, from https://www.frontiersin.org/guidelines/author-guidelines
- Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ). (2026). Frontiers in Human Neuroscience (ISSN 1662-5161). Retrieved November 9, 2026, from https://doaj.org/toc/1662-5161
- Clarivate. (2025/2026). Journal Citation Reports: Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. Retrieved November 9, 2026, from https://mjl.clarivate.com
