Instructions for Author
JM supports rigorous and reproducible memory research. Follow these guidelines to ensure your manuscript moves smoothly through review.
Well prepared submissions help reviewers focus on scientific contribution rather than formatting issues.
Manuscript components to include
Main manuscript
Text with figures and tables embedded or referenced.
Title page
Author names, affiliations, and corresponding author contact.
Cover letter
Brief summary of novelty and scope fit.
Figures
High resolution files with clear legends.
Tables
Editable tables with labeled columns and notes.
Declarations
Funding, conflicts of interest, and ethics statements.
Supplementary files
Extended methods, datasets, or additional analyses.
Reporting checklists
Attach relevant reporting guidelines when required.
Suggested reviewers
Optional list of qualified reviewers without conflicts.
Data availability
Statement describing where data can be accessed.
Method and ethics essentials
Study design clarity
Define hypotheses, sample sizes, and analytic plan.
Task description
Provide enough detail to replicate stimuli and procedures.
Statistical reporting
Report effect sizes and confidence intervals alongside P values.
Ethics approval
Name the approving committee and consent model.
Data integrity
Explain quality control and exclusion criteria.
Reproducibility
Share code and materials when permitted.
Preregistration
Include registry links when applicable.
Image processing
Describe preprocessing for neuroimaging data.
Research domains welcomed
Define populations and outcomes
Clearly describe participant inclusion criteria, recruitment methods, and outcome measures so readers can interpret generalizability.
Specify tasks and timing
List task parameters, trial counts, timing, and stimulus properties to support replication of behavioral memory studies.
Document acquisition and preprocessing
Report scanner settings, preprocessing pipelines, and correction methods for multiple comparisons.
Use transparent diagnostic criteria
State diagnostic standards, clinical assessments, and comorbidity handling for patient samples.
Explain access and reuse
Provide repository links or controlled access procedures, and describe de identification steps for sensitive data.
Support analytical rigor
Explain model selection, covariates, and sensitivity analyses, and note how missing data were handled.
Respond clearly to reviews
Provide a point by point response letter that maps reviewer comments to manuscript changes.
Prepare for production
Review proofs promptly and confirm accuracy of figures, tables, and metadata before publication.
Well structured manuscripts reduce review cycles and improve the clarity of memory science for readers.
Share stimuli when possible
When permissions allow, share stimulus sets, task scripts, or training materials to enable replication and meta analysis. If materials are proprietary, note how others can request access or reproduce the method.
Report registered protocols
If the study was preregistered, include the registry link and note any deviations. This helps reviewers evaluate confirmatory versus exploratory analyses and increases confidence in findings.
Report acquisition and preprocessing
Include scanner model, acquisition parameters, preprocessing pipeline, and correction methods for multiple comparisons. Clear imaging details allow readers to assess reliability and compare findings across studies.
Describe scoring and reliability
Explain how responses were scored, how reliability was assessed, and how missing or invalid trials were handled. This information supports reproducibility and interpretation.
Clarify diagnostic criteria
State diagnostic standards, assessment tools, and inclusion or exclusion criteria. For longitudinal work, describe follow up intervals and attrition handling.
Explain analytical choices
Describe model selection, covariates, and corrections for multiple testing. Provide rationale for any subgroup analyses to prevent over interpretation.
Ensure interpretability
Figures should include clear labels, units, and confidence intervals where appropriate. For imaging figures, include scale bars and clarify the statistical thresholds used.
Use relevant checklists
Follow STROBE, PRISMA, CONSORT, or other relevant guidelines and include completed checklists where applicable.
State access conditions
Provide repository links or controlled access procedures. If data cannot be shared, explain why and describe how results can be verified.
Support production accuracy
Review proofs carefully, confirm author affiliations, and verify metadata accuracy to support indexing and discoverability.
Report recruitment and attrition
Include a participant flow summary and explain any exclusions or dropouts. This helps reviewers assess bias and generalizability.
Explain planning
Describe how sample size was determined, including power calculations or practical constraints.
Document key settings
Provide task duration, number of trials, timing, and scoring rules so studies can be replicated accurately.
Share materials when possible
If stimuli or code can be shared, include links and licenses. If not, describe how others can request access.
Clarify preprocessing steps
List software versions, filtering, motion correction, and normalization procedures for imaging studies.
Describe correction methods
Report how you controlled for multiple testing in imaging or behavioral analyses to protect against false positives.
Use supplements wisely
Place extended methods or additional analyses in supplementary files and reference them clearly in the main text.
Acknowledge constraints
Explain limitations related to sampling, measurement, or analysis so readers can interpret the scope of the findings.
Select the right path
ManuscriptZone supports full tracking and revisions, while the simple submission form works best for ready to review files.
Prepare for publication
Verify author details, funding statements, and data links during proof review to support indexing accuracy.
Guide readers through the logic
Organize the introduction to state the problem, summarize relevant theory, and define the specific hypotheses. In the methods, describe participants, tasks, and procedures in a way that another lab could reproduce the study. In the results, present findings in the same order as hypotheses and clarify which analyses were planned versus exploratory. In the discussion, connect findings to theory and explain practical implications for memory assessment, learning, or clinical care. Clear structure reduces reviewer confusion and speeds decisions.
Make evidence easy to evaluate
Provide enough information for reviewers to assess data quality, statistical validity, and potential sources of bias. Report effect sizes, confidence intervals, and model assumptions. If multiple datasets or tasks are used, explain how they align with the research question. When sharing data is limited, specify the reason and describe how results can still be verified. Transparency improves trust and helps readers build on the work in future memory studies.
Plan for the final steps
During revision, respond to each reviewer point with a clear action or rationale. Use a response table or numbered list to help editors track changes. After acceptance, review proofs carefully for author names, affiliations, and figure accuracy. A careful final review supports proper indexing and reduces post publication corrections.
Keep files consistent
Name files clearly, align figure numbers with captions, and ensure that supplemental materials match references in the main text. Organized files prevent delays during production.
Support efficient evaluation
A concise cover letter that summarizes the research question, methods, and significance helps editors assign reviewers quickly.
Document approvals clearly
State the approving committee, protocol number, and consent model. If consent was waived or modified, explain the rationale and approvals.
Keep writing precise
Use consistent terminology for tasks, outcomes, and measures. Define abbreviations on first use and avoid ambiguous terms to improve reviewer clarity.
Meet ethical expectations
For studies involving vulnerable populations, include additional safeguards and describe how consent or assent was obtained.
Reduce production edits
Verify that figure numbering, captions, and in text references match exactly before submission to prevent corrections.
Attach required guidance
Use the appropriate reporting checklist for your study type and note where key items are addressed in the manuscript. Clear checklist mapping helps reviewers verify completeness.
Verify formatting
Confirm that headings, citations, and figure references are consistent throughout the manuscript so the review process is not slowed by technical corrections.
Double check tables
Ensure tables are editable and include clear column labels and notes so reviewers can interpret results without ambiguity.
Check references
Confirm all references include complete author lists, year, and DOI when available.
Scan for consistency
Verify that abbreviations are defined consistently throughout the manuscript.
Submit to the Journal of Memory
Share rigorous research on memory systems, cognition, and clinical applications with a global audience.
