World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!
Psychology and Neuroscience
H-index 9

Psychology and Neuroscience

1984-3054

Published by: American Psychological Association

https://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/pne

Ranking & Metrics

Discipline name Position Best Scientists Publications D-Index
Neuroscience 368 16 20 6

Additional Metrics

Number of Best Scientists*: 42
Documents by Best Scientists*: 51
Top 100 Ranked Scientists*: 1
SCIMAGO H-index: 25
SCIMAGO SJR: 0.411
Impact Factor: N/A

Overview

Top Research Topics at Psychology and Neuroscience?

The main research concerns discussed in Psychology and Neuroscience are Cognitive psychology, Developmental psychology, Cognition, Neuroscience and Clinical psychology. While Cognitive psychology is the focus of it, it also provided insights into the studies of Stimulus (physiology), Working memory, Social psychology and Perception. Most of the works presented in the journal deals with Perception but it intersects with the subject of Communication.

It facilitates discussions on Developmental psychology that incorporate concepts from other fields like Test (assessment) and Executive functions. The works on Cognition deal in particular with Neuropsychology. The journal investigates Neuroscience research which frequently intersects with Anxiety.

The research on Clinical psychology featured in the journal combines topics in other fields like Psychiatry and Neuropsychological assessment.

  • Cognitive psychology (23.58%)
  • Developmental psychology (22.26%)
  • Cognition (14.53%)

What are the most cited papers published in the journal?

  • Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT): an updated systematic review of psychometric properties (318 citations)
  • Brain activation for reading and listening comprehension: an fMRI study of modality effects and individual differences in language comprehension (96 citations)
  • Models of brain asymmetry in emotional processing (69 citations)

Research areas of the most cited articles at Psychology and Neuroscience:

The main points discussed in the journal articles deal with Developmental psychology, Clinical psychology, Psychiatry, Anxiety and Cognitive psychology. Issues in Developmental psychology were discussed in the journal publications, taking into consideration concepts from other disciplines like Test (assessment) and Analysis of variance. The published papers explore issues in Cognitive psychology which can be linked to other research areas like Working memory, Prefrontal cortex, Rey complex figure test and Amygdala.

What topics the last edition of the journal is best known for?

  • Cognition
  • Neuroscience
  • Major depressive disorder

The previous edition focused in particular on these issues:

The main points discussed in Psychology and Neuroscience deals with Cognitive psychology, Clinical psychology, Cognitive science, Neuroscience and Working memory. It aims to form a more comprehensive understanding of the field by integrating disciplines like Cognitive psychology and Whole body. The presented research on Clinical psychology deals specifically with Executive functions but it also addresses topics in Fibromyalgia and Distress tolerance.

In addition to Cognitive science research, it aims to explore topics under Neuroplasticity, Perception and Embodied cognition. The featured Neuroscience research zeroes in on concepts in Fear-potentiated startle, Interoception and Sensory processing but also tackles themes under Class (computer programming). Psychology and Neuroscience discusses concepts in Stroop color word test and Neuropsychology under Cognition and how they intertwine with disciplines like Socioeconomic status.

The most cited articles from the last journal are:

  • Sensory processing in autism across exteroceptive and interoceptive domains. (2 citations)
  • Work coping, stress appraisal, and psychological resilience: Reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic among health care providers (1 citations)
  • Exposure effects of species bloodfin (Aphyocharax anisitsi) and jewel tetras (Hyphessobrycon eques) in different anxiety experimental models. (1 citations)

Papers citation over time

A key indicator for each journal is its effectiveness in reaching other researchers with the papers published at that venue.

The chart below presents the interquartile range (first quartile 25%, median 50% and third quartile 75%) of the number of citations of articles over time.

The top authors publishing in Psychology and Neuroscience (based on the number of publications) are:

  • Dora Fix Ventura (16 papers) absent at the last edition,
  • Rochele Paz Fonseca (15 papers) absent at the last edition,
  • Natanael Antonio dos Santos (13 papers) published 1 paper at the last edition the same number as at the previous edition,
  • Jesus Landeira-Fernandez (12 papers) absent at the last edition,
  • Amauri Gouveia (11 papers) published 2 papers at the last edition.

The overall trend for top authors publishing in this journal is outlined below. The chart shows the number of publications at each edition of the journal for top authors.

Only papers with recognized affiliations are considered

The top affiliations publishing in Psychology and Neuroscience (based on the number of publications) are:

  • University of São Paulo (100 papers) absent at the last edition,
  • Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (38 papers) absent at the last edition,
  • Federal University of Pará (26 papers) absent at the last edition,
  • Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (22 papers) absent at the last edition,
  • Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (22 papers) absent at the last edition.

The overall trend for top affiliations publishing in this journal is outlined below. The chart shows the number of publications at each edition of the journal for top affiliations.

Publication chance based on affiliation

The publication chance index shows the ratio of articles published by the best research institutions in the journal edition to all articles published within that journal. The best research institutions were selected based on the largest number of articles published during all editions of the journal.

The chart below presents the percentage ratio of articles from top institutions (based on their ranking of total papers).Top affiliations were grouped by their rank into the following tiers: top 1-10, top 11-20, top 21-50, and top 51+. Only articles with a recognized affiliation are considered.

During the most recent 2021 edition, 79.41% of publications had an unrecognized affiliation. Out of the publications with recognized affiliations, 0.00% were posted by at least one author from the top 10 institutions publishing in the journal. Another 14.29% included authors affiliated with research institutions from the top 11-20 affiliations. Institutions from the 21-50 range included 28.57% of all publications and 57.14% were from other institutions.

Returning Authors Index

A very common phenomenon observed among researchers publishing scientific articles is the intentional selection of journals they have already attended in the past. In particular, it is worth analyzing the case when the authors participate in the same journal from year to year.

The Returning Authors Index presented below illustrates the ratio of authors who participated in both a given as well as the previous edition of the journal in relation to all participants in a given year.

Returning Institution Index

The graph below shows the Returning Institution Index, illustrating the ratio of institutions that participated in both a given and the previous edition of the conference in relation to all affiliations present in a given year.

The experience to innovation index

Our experience to innovation index was created to show a cross-section of the experience level of authors publishing in a journal. The index includes the authors publishing at the last edition of a journal, grouped by total number of publications throughout their academic career (P) and the total number of citations of these publications ever received (C).

The group intervals were selected empirically to best show the diversity of the authors' experiences, their labels were selected as a convenience, not as judgment. The authors were divided into the following groups:

  • Novice - P < 5 or C < 25 (the number of publications less than 5 or the number of citations less than 25),
  • Competent - P < 10 or C < 100 (the number of publications less than 10 or the number of citations less than 100),
  • Experienced - P < 25 or C < 625 (the number of publications less than 25 or the number of citations less than 625),
  • Master - P < 50 or C < 2500 (the number of publications less than 50 or the number of citations less than 2500),
  • Star - P ≥ 50 and C ≥ 2500 (both the number of publications greater than 50 and the number of citations greater than 2500).

The chart below illustrates experience levels of first authors in cases of publications with multiple authors.

Career Opportunities and Study Paths in Psychology and Neuroscience

One major element often overlooked in research journals involves the application of these studies in real life. Specifically, readers might wonder how to get involved in these areas of psychology and neuroscience, and start contributing to research in these fields themselves. For instance, those enthralled by the intersection of neuroscience research with anxiety might consider becoming Speech-Language Therapists. This particular career provides an opportunity to actively participate in research and apply their psychological knowledge, especially within the neuroscience context, to clients experiencing diverse communication challenges. If interested in pursuing this career within specific states or cities in the United States, detailed guidance, such as instructions on how to become a speech therapist in South Carolina, is readily available. Such information provides comprehensive steps to achieve certification within different geographies, aligned with the unique requirements of each state. Equipped with the right education and skills, professionals in fields such as Speech-Language Therapy and others related to psychology and neuroscience could potentially contribute to the exciting research discussed within this journal and beyond, further bridging the gap between scientific research and practical application.

Top Publications

  • Sensory processing in autism across exteroceptive and interoceptive domains.

    Iris Proff;Gemma L. Williams;Lisa Quadt;Sarah N. Garfinkel

    (2021)
    44 Citations
  • Maternal stroking is a fine-tuned mechanism relating to C-tactile afferent activation: An exploratory study.

    Anika Bytomski;Gerhard Ritschel;Antonie Bierling;Johanna Bendas

    (2020)
    21 Citations
  • The role of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex and context in regulating fear learning and extinction

    Sarah T. Gonzalez;Michael S. Fanselow

    (2020)
    16 Citations
  • Low-level lead exposure impairs fronto-executive functions: A call to update the DSM–5 with lead poisoning as a neurodevelopmental disorder.

    Lorenz S. Neuwirth;Oscar E. Lopez;Jay S. Schneider;Morri E. Markowitz

    (2020)
    15 Citations
  • Glutamatergic and Serotonergic Modulation of Rat Medial and Lateral Orbitofrontal Cortex in Visual Serial Reversal Learning.

    Mona E. Hervig;Louise Piilgaard;Tadej Božič;Johan Alsiö

    (2020)
    9 Citations
  • Mind wandering: Tracking perceptual decoupling, mental improvisation, and mental navigation

    Óscar F. Gonçalves;Óscar F. Gonçalves;Mariana Rachel Dias da Silva;Sandra Carvalho;Patrícia Coelho

    (2020)
    8 Citations
  • Considerations for advancing a well integrated comparative psychology research approach directed toward improving our understanding of fronto-executive functions.

    Lorenz S. Neuwirth;Bryan Kolb

    (2020)
    6 Citations
  • What hyperscanning and brain connectivity for hemodynamic (fNIRS), electrophysiological (EEG) and behavioral measures can tell us about prosocial behavior.

    (2022)
    5 Citations
  • Reading point-light walkers and amorphous—A TMS study.

    (2021)
    3 Citations
  • Fronto-executive functions.

    Bryan Kolb;Lorenz S. Neuwirth

    (2020)
    2 Citations

Related Online Degrees & Career Pathways

Exploring psychology in the USA opens up diverse career pathways, each with unique specializations and opportunities. For those interested in legal contexts, a forensic psychology degree offers insight into the intersection of psychology and the legal system, along with competitive earning potential.

If working with younger populations appeals to you, an online child and adolescent psychology masters can prepare you to support developmental and emotional health in youth through evidence-based strategies.

Alternatively, earning an online master's degree in counseling equips students with foundational counseling techniques applicable across multiple settings, from schools to private practice.

For a broader clinical focus, an online master in clinical psychology provides essential training to assess and treat mental health disorders, offering flexibility through remote study options.

These programs highlight how online education in psychology makes specialized training accessible, enabling students nationwide to pursue their career goals with convenience and quality.

Best Scientists Contributing to This Journal

Recently Published Articles