Journal profile · ANATOMY & MORPHOLOGY-NEUROSCIENCES
Frontiers in Neuroanatomy
ISSN 1662-5129 · Frontiers Media S.A. · SWITZERLAND · Founded 2007
Frontiers in Neuroanatomy: CAS Zone 4 · Medicine (2025 upgraded edition); impact factor 2.37; fully open access; APC charged, amount not published; median 64 days to acceptance (99 articles, last 24 months); 58 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Frontiers in Neuroanatomy is published by Frontiers Media S.A. and is in Zone 4 of Medicine in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research, Neural dynamics and brain function and Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms, together about 33.1% of its articles. Its main subfields are Cognitive Neuroscience. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
Frontiers in Neuroanatomy publishes rigorous research revealing the foundational anatomical organization of the nervous system across all species, bridging the gap between structure and function. Led by Specialty Chief Editor Prof. Javier DeFelipe (Laboratorio Cajal de Circuitos Corticales, Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, UPM and Instituto Cajal, CSIC, Spain) and supported by an outstanding editorial board of international experts, the journal is indexed in PubMed Central (PMC), Scopus, Web of Science (SCIE), and DOAJ. We invite submissions that advance our fundamental understanding of neuroanatomical design principles, from the sub-cellular to the whole-brain level. We particularly encourage studies that combine modern quantitative approaches, computational modeling, and advanced imaging. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to: Spatial Omics & Cell Atlasing: Single‐cell RNA sequencing (scRNA‐seq) and spatial transcriptomics to map gene/protein expression and generate high-resolution, multi-modal cell-type atlases. Connectomics & Circuit Mapping: Micro- and macro-connectomics utilizing axonal transport methods, tractography, and advanced computational network analysis. Advanced Microscopy & Tissue Clearing: Whole-brain imaging techniques (e.g., light-sheet microscopy, tissue clearing) and and volume electron microscopy for quantitative sub-cellular and synaptic characterization. AI & Computational Anatomy: The application of machine learning, AI, and theoretical modeling for 3D anatomical reconstruction, morphological classification, and understanding brain design. Classical Neuroanatomy: Modernized applications of immunocytochemistry, in situ hybridization, and comparative neuroanatomy across brain regions, species, or between health and disease states. We welcome submissions featuring quantitative descriptive neuroanatomy, provided they offer deep insights into nervous system architecture. Anatomical papers complemented by theoretical or functional studies to better understand the structural blueprint of the brain are highly encouraged. Authors are requested to emphasize high-quality imaging, rigorous quantification, and powerful illustrations in their submissions. Out of Scope To ensure a rigorous anatomical focus, the following areas are strictly out of scope and will not be considered: Clinical & Surgical: Studies with a primary clinical focus, diagnostic reports, or those detailing the development of surgical procedures and interventions.
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): ANATOMY & MORPHOLOGY-NEUROSCIENCES
Editorial board by country: none in mainland China; most named United States 6, Spain 4, Japan 1, Germany 1, Italy 1 (16 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology ResearchNeuroscience15.5%
- Neural dynamics and brain functionNeuroscience9.4%
- Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanismsNeuroscience8.3%
- Advanced Neuroimaging Techniques and ApplicationsMedicine6.2%
- Functional Brain Connectivity StudiesNeuroscience5.1%
- Memory and Neural MechanismsNeuroscience4.6%
- Olfactory and Sensory Function StudiesNeuroscience4.1%
- Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration MechanismsNeuroscience4%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Medicine Zone 4
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Medicine | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Anatomy & Morphology | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Neurosciences | Zone 4 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Medicine Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Medicine | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Anatomy & Morphology | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Neurosciences | Zone 4 |
Top journal: noReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Medicine Zone 4
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Medicine | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Anatomy & Morphology | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Neurosciences | Zone 4 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
Database indexing
SCIEScopusDOAJLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Indexing the journal's website claims
Web of SciencePMCEmbasePublisher website
Other: EBSCO, ProQuest, Dimensions, CNKI, CLOCKSS, Crossref
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
- 2.37LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher)
- 2.4Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 5.1LetPub ·
- CiteScore (publisher)
- 5.1Publisher website ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 1.05LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 0.94LetPub ·
- h-index
- 49LetPub ·
- h-index
- 119OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 1,191OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 3.46OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 4.2%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 100%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 52LetPub ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 1,719 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 43 | 43 | 13 |
| 2025 | 58 | 58 | 205 |
| 2024 | 75 | 75 | 391 |
| 2023 | 91 | 91 | 807 |
| 2022 | 137 | 137 | 1,691 |
| 2021 | 118 | 118 | 1,874 |
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 PubMed · to
64 daysMedian, submission to acceptance · P25–P75 43 days – 97 days
- Acceptance to online
- median 21 days (99 articles)
- Submission to online
- median 87 days
- Sample
- 99 articles with submission and acceptance dates (112 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)
- over 12 weeksLetPub ·
- Submission to publication (journal-reported)
- about 14 weeksDOAJ ·
- Peer review
- Single anonymous peer reviewDOAJ
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
Fully open accessDOAJ
Every article is open access; authors usually pay an article processing charge (APC).
| Source | APC | Fee waiver | License | Observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DOAJ | CHF 3,150 | Yes | CC BY | |
| OpenAlex | CHF 3,150 | — | — | |
| LetPub | USD 3,295 | Yes | — |
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 prepare1 items from the author guidelines
- Keywords
- 5–8
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Conflicts of interest, License & copyright, Open access, Peer review
- AI use Use of AI to create written or visual content
Authors should not list a generative AI technology as a co-author or author of any submitted manuscript. Generative AI technologies cannot be held accountable for all aspects of a manuscript and consequently do not meet the criteria required for authorship. If the author of a submitted manuscript has used written or visual content produced by or edited using a generative AI technology, this use mu…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Conflicts of interest Safeguards against financial conflicts of interest
Only leading researchers acting as Associate Editors, who are not part of Frontiers' staff, can make acceptance decisions based on reviews performed by external experts acting as Community Reviewers or Reviewers. None have a financial incentive to accept articles, i.e. they are not paid for their role as Associate Editor or community Reviewer, and any award scheme is not linked to acceptances of m…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- License & copyright Open access and copyright
All Frontiers' articles from July 2012 onwards are published with open access under the Creative Commons CC-BY license (the current version is CC-BY, version 4.0). This means that the author(s) retains copyright, but the content is free to download, distribute, and adapt for commercial or non-commercial purposes, given appropriate attribution to the original article. Upon submission, the author(s)…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access Open access and copyright
All Frontiers' articles from July 2012 onwards are published with open access under the Creative Commons CC-BY license (the current version is CC-BY, version 4.0). This means that the author(s) retains copyright, but the content is free to download, distribute, and adapt for commercial or non-commercial purposes, given appropriate attribution to the original article. Upon submission, the author(s)…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Peer review Peer review
Our rigorous, transparent peer review process combines expert review and constructive dialogue to strengthen your manuscript.
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
- Frontiers Media S.A.
- Country or region
- SWITZERLAND
- Language
- English
- Founded
- 2007
- ISSN
- 1662-5129
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗DOAJ
- Submission system ↗Publisher website
- Author guidelines ↗LetPub
- Aims & Scope ↗LetPub
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
- APC information ↗DOAJ
- Fee waivers ↗DOAJ
- Open access statement ↗DOAJ
- License & copyright ↗DOAJ
- Peer review process ↗DOAJ
- Editorial board ↗DOAJ
- Plagiarism policy ↗DOAJ
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Frontiers in Neuroanatomy
What CAS zone is Frontiers in Neuroanatomy in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Frontiers in Neuroanatomy is in Zone 4 of Medicine, and in Zone 3 of the minor category Anatomy & Morphology / Neurosciences. 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 Frontiers in Neuroanatomy?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 2.37; CiteScore 5.1, h-index 119.
How long does peer review take at Frontiers in Neuroanatomy?
Based on the dates recorded on 99 articles published between October 2024 and October 2026 (the last 24 months), the median time from submission to acceptance is 64 days (interquartile range 43–97 days); authors report an average review time of over 12 weeks. 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.
Where are the editorial board members of Frontiers in Neuroanatomy based?
Of the 16 board members whose country the journal's board page names, none are in mainland China; the countries named most often are United States (6), Spain (4) and Japan (1). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Frontiers in Neuroanatomy?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Frontiers in Neuroanatomy is indexed in SCIE, Scopus and DOAJ. The journal's website also lists Web of Science, PMC and Embase; that list has not been checked against each database.
Is Frontiers in Neuroanatomy open access, and what is the APC?
Frontiers in Neuroanatomy is a fully open-access journal. APC charged, amount not published.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, OpenAlex, Publisher website, DOAJ; 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 2026-08-25). Last updated: .