Journal profile · Clinical Neurology
Brain Topography
ISSN 0896-0267 · eISSN 1573-6792 · Springer US · UNITED STATES · Quarterly · Founded 1988
Brain Topography: CAS Zone 3 · Medicine (2025 upgraded edition); impact factor 5.26; hybrid open access; APC about USD 4,390; median 154 days to acceptance (95 articles, last 24 months); community-reported acceptance: moderate; 74 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Brain Topography is published by Springer US and is in Zone 3 of Medicine in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Functional Brain Connectivity Studies, EEG and Brain-Computer Interfaces and Neural dynamics and brain function, together about 50.2% of its articles. Its main subfields are Cognitive Neuroscience. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
Publishes clinical and basic research on cognitive neuroscience and functional neurophysiology Appropriate venue for case/clinical studies from one or a cohort of patients/subjects that provide insights into the neural basis of a psychiatric or neurological impairment and/or the efficacy of a novel therapy Firmly established as a forum for innovative methodologies and models Publishes reviews, full-length papers, and short communications Rapid turnaround: First decisions on submissions are typically made within 7 weeks Rapid publication: Papers are published online on average 14 days after a paper’s acceptance Brain Topography publishes clinical and basic research on cognitive neuroscience and functional neurophysiology using the full range of imaging techniques including EEG, MEG, fMRI, TMS, diffusion imaging, spectroscopy, intracranial recordings, lesion studies, and related methods. Submissions combining multiple techniques are particularly encouraged, as well as reports of new and innovative methodologies. Examinations of the function of a specific brain region or regions in patients or animal models would also be appropriate, provided that they demonstrate clear relevance and applicability to humans. Brain Topography publishes full-length Original Articles, Brief Communications, Reviews, and Editorials.
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Clinical Neurology
Editor-in-chief Christoph M. MichelsPublisher website
Editorial board by country: 2 in mainland China (about 3%); most named United States 11, Italy 8, Germany 7, Switzerland 6, France 4 (60 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Functional Brain Connectivity StudiesNeuroscience17.4%
- EEG and Brain-Computer InterfacesNeuroscience17.3%
- Neural dynamics and brain functionNeuroscience15.5%
- Neural and Behavioral Psychology StudiesNeuroscience6.3%
- Advanced MRI Techniques and ApplicationsMedicine5.1%
- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation StudiesNeuroscience3.7%
- Neuroscience and Music PerceptionNeuroscience3.5%
- Advanced Neuroimaging Techniques and ApplicationsMedicine3.4%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Medicine Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Medicine | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Neurosciences | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Clinical Neurology | Zone 4 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Medicine Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Medicine | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Clinical Neurology | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Neurosciences | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Medicine Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Medicine | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Clinical Neurology | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Neurosciences | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
Database indexing
SCIEScopusLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Indexing the journal's website claims
MEDLINEEmbasePsycINFOCurrent ContentsPublisher website
Other: Google Scholar, EBSCO, ProQuest, Dimensions, CNKI, Baidu, AGRICOLA, Naver, OCLC, Portico, CLOCKSS
As the journal's website lists them, not checked against each database; for Web of Science editions the records above apply.
Editions, and major and minor categories, are shown separately and never merged into one zone; check which edition your institution uses before you submit or report.
Metrics
Impact metrics and publication volume
Impact
- Impact factor
- 5.26LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher) 2025
- 5.3Publisher website ·
- 5-year impact factor (publisher) 2025
- 4.2Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 6.9LetPub ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 1.28LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 1.27LetPub ·
- h-index
- 63LetPub ·
- h-index
- 117OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 1,192OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 3.05OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 5.7%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 41.15%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 73LetPub ·
- Downloads per year (publisher) 2025
- 435,300Publisher website ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 1,880 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 85 | 34 | 24 |
| 2025 | 74 | 31 | 237 |
| 2024 | 64 | 29 | 419 |
| 2023 | 97 | 58 | 1,967 |
| 2022 | 51 | 28 | 616 |
| 2021 | 71 | 34 | 1,117 |
Sources count differently and were observed at different times, so each source's own value is kept; "publisher" marks figures from the journal's website.
Review & acceptance
Review time and acceptance
Review time from article dates manuscript dates registered with Crossref · to
154 daysMedian, submission to acceptance · P25–P75 117 days – 217 days
- Acceptance to online
- median 16 days (96 articles)
- Submission to online
- median 182 days
- Sample
- 95 articles with submission and acceptance dates (176 in the window); the latest was accepted on
Only articles that were accepted and published are counted, not the time spent on rejected manuscripts, so this usually runs longer than a publisher's "time to first decision".
Other sources
- Average review time (community reports)
- about 3 monthsLetPub ·
- Average acceptance (community reports)
- ModerateLetPub ·
- Submission to first decision
- 7 daysPublisher website ·
- Peer review
- Double anonymous peer reviewPublisher website
Community reports come from authors' own submissions (confidence 0.5) and are not a promise from the journal; for publisher figures, the journal's own definitions apply.
Fees & open access
APC and open-access policy
Hybrid open accessLetPub
A subscription journal in which authors can pay to publish their article open access.
| Source | APC | Fee waiver | License | Observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenAlex | USD 4,390 / EUR 3,390 / GBP 2,790 | — | — |
A hybrid journal charges the APC only when the author chooses open access; publishing under the subscription model is usually free.
The journal's website is authoritative for fees; sources were observed at different times and each keeps its own value, without averaging.
Submission
Article types and submission policies (journal website)
What to prepare4 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- 150–250 words
- Keywords
- ≥ 4
- Reference style
- Author–date
- First submission
- Free format: the journal's layout is not required
Article types accepted10
- brief communicationFull-length Original ArticlesThere is no length limit or restriction on the number of illustrations/tables for full-length articles. However, authors are encour…Length not stated
- brief communicationsBrief communications should be a maximum of 10000 characters (including spaces and covering all sections, including references) and should include maximally two…Length not stated
- editorialFull-length Original ArticlesThere is no length limit or restriction on the number of illustrations/tables for full-length articles. However, authors are encour…Length not stated
- editorialsThis article type will appear on an irregular basis and are generally by invitation only.Length not stated
- full paperFull-length Original ArticlesThere is no length limit or restriction on the number of illustrations/tables for full-length articles. However, authors are encour…Length not stated
- full-length original articlesThere is no length limit or restriction on the number of illustrations/tables for full-length articles.Length not stated
- opinionFull-length Original ArticlesThere is no length limit or restriction on the number of illustrations/tables for full-length articles. However, authors are encour…Length not stated
- original articleFull-length Original ArticlesThere is no length limit or restriction on the number of illustrations/tables for full-length articles. However, authors are encour…Length not stated
- reviewFull-length Original ArticlesThere is no length limit or restriction on the number of illustrations/tables for full-length articles. However, authors are encour…Length not stated
- reviewsAlthough reviews are generally by invitation only, all such submissions will undergo peer-review.Length not stated
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Conflicts of interest, Data availability, Publication ethics, License & copyright, Open access, Peer review, Trial registration / reporting guidelines
- AI use Generative AI Images
Please check Springer’s policy on generative AI images and make sure your work adheres to the principles described therein. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Conflicts of interest Competing Interests
Authors are requested to disclose interests that are directly or indirectly related to the work submitted for publication. Interests within the last 3 years of beginning the work (conducting the research and preparing the work for submission) should be reported. Interests outside the 3-year time frame must be disclosed if they could reasonably be perceived as influencing the submitted work. Disclo…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Data availability Data availability statements
All original research must include a data availability statement. This statement should explain how to access data supporting the results and analysis in the article, including links/citations to publicly archived datasets analysed or generated during the study. Please see our full policy here. If it is not possible to share research data publicly, for instance when individual privacy could be com…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Publication ethics Compliance with Ethical Standards
To ensure objectivity and transparency in research and to ensure that accepted principles of ethical and professional conduct have been followed, authors should include information regarding sources of funding, potential conflicts of interest (financial or non-financial), informed consent if the research involved human participants, and a statement on welfare of animals if the research involved an…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- License & copyright Copyright
Open Choice articles do not require transfer of copyright as the copyright remains with the author. In opting for open access, the author(s) agree to publish the article under a Creative Commons license. Details of the OA licences offered to authors can be found on the individual journal website, in the journal's How to publish with us guide. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access Open access publishing
To find out more about publishing your work Open Access in Brain Topography, including information on fees, funding and licences, visit our Open access publishing page. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Peer review
Reviewer suggestion/exclusion allowed Model summary
Authors are welcome to suggest suitable reviewers and/or request the exclusion of certain individuals when they submit their manuscripts.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Trial registration / reporting guidelines Clinical Trial Registration
The World Health Organization (WHO) definition of a clinical trial is "any research study that prospectively assigns human participants or groups of humans to one or more health-related interventions to evaluate the effects on health outcomes". The WHO defines health interventions as “A health intervention is an act performed for, with or on behalf of a person or population whose purpose is to ass…
Source ↗Publisher website ·
Excerpts are quoted from the journal's website; "model summary" lines are written by Workers AI and checked against the text. The journal's website is authoritative.
Profile
Publication details and official links
- Publisher
- Springer US
- Country or region
- UNITED STATES
- Language
- English
- Frequency
- Quarterly
- Founded
- 1988
- ISSN
- 0896-0267
- Electronic ISSN
- 1573-6792
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗LetPub
- Submission system ↗LetPub
- Author guidelines ↗LetPub
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Brain Topography
What CAS zone is Brain Topography in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Brain Topography is in Zone 3 of Medicine, and in Zone 3 of the minor category Neurosciences / Clinical Neurology. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 3 of Medicine. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of Brain Topography?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 5.26; CiteScore 6.9, h-index 117.
How long does peer review take at Brain Topography?
Based on the dates recorded on 95 articles published between October 2024 and October 2026 (the last 24 months), the median time from submission to acceptance is 154 days (interquartile range 117–217 days); authors report an average review time of about 3 months; the community-reported acceptance is “Moderate”. Article statistics cover accepted papers only, publisher figures follow the journal's own definitions, and community reports come from authors' own submissions; none is a promise from the journal.
What are the manuscript requirements of Brain Topography?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: 150–250 words; Keywords: ≥ 4; Reference style: Author–date; First submission: Free format: the journal's layout is not required. A model extracted these from the author guidelines and each was checked against the text; check the latest version on the journal's website before submitting.
Where are the editorial board members of Brain Topography based?
Of the 60 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 2 (about 3%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are United States (11), Italy (8) and Germany (7). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Brain Topography?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Brain Topography is indexed in SCIE and Scopus. The journal's website also lists MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO and Current Contents; that list has not been checked against each database.
Is Brain Topography open access, and what is the APC?
Brain Topography is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 4,390.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, OpenAlex, Publisher website; every figure is tagged with its source and the date it was observed, and conflicting values are kept per source. LetPub source page: view ↗ (archived 2026-08-24). Last updated: .