World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!
Trends in Cognitive Sciences
H-index 80

Trends in Cognitive Sciences

Ranking & Metrics

Discipline name Position Best Scientists Publications D-Index
Psychology 7 347 349 69
Neuroscience 12 274 293 64

Additional Metrics

Number of Best Scientists*: 591
Documents by Best Scientists*: 512
Top 100 Ranked Scientists*: 30
SCIMAGO H-index: 375
SCIMAGO SJR: 4.506
Impact Factor: 17.2

Overview

Top Research Topics at Trends in Cognitive Sciences?

The journal investigates areas of study like Cognitive science, Cognition, Cognitive psychology, Neuroscience and Perception. Cognitive science research presented in Trends in Cognitive Sciences encompasses a variety of subjects, including Consciousness, Perspective (graphical) and Connectionism. Topics in Cognition were tackled in line with various other fields like Developmental psychology and Control (linguistics).

While Cognitive psychology is the focus of it, it also provided insights into the studies of Social psychology, Action (philosophy), Working memory, Visual perception and Social cognition. The journal aims to address concerns in Neuroscience, specifically in the areas of Brain mapping, Prefrontal cortex, Neuroimaging and Sensory system. The in-depth study on Perception also explores topics in the intersecting field of Communication.

  • Cognitive science (41.59%)
  • Cognition (35.14%)
  • Cognitive psychology (34.82%)

What are the most cited papers published in the journal?

  • Cognitive and emotional influences in anterior cingulate cortex (5081 citations)
  • The episodic buffer: a new component of working memory? (4990 citations)
  • The distributed human neural system for face perception. (3736 citations)

Research areas of the most cited articles at Trends in Cognitive Sciences:

The main points discussed in the most cited articles deal with Cognition, Cognitive psychology, Cognitive science, Neuroscience and Perception. The journal papers explore topics in Cognition which can be helpful for research in disciplines like Developmental psychology, Consciousness, Sensory system and Communication. The featured Cognitive psychology studies in the most cited papers mainly concentrate on Social cognition but also cover areas of interest in Social perception.

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

  • Cognition
  • Artificial intelligence
  • Neuroscience

The previous edition focused in particular on these issues:

The objective of Trends in Cognitive Sciences is to combine knowledge in the areas of Cognition, Cognitive science, Cognitive psychology, Neuroscience and Perception. Cognition research is concerned with Working memory in particular. Issues in Cognitive science were discussed, taking into consideration concepts from other disciplines like Consciousness, Theory of mind and Diversity (politics).

While work presented in Trends in Cognitive Sciences provided substantial information on Cognitive psychology, it also covered topics in Perspective (graphical) and Affect (psychology). Trends in Cognitive Sciences explores research in Neuroscience and the adjacent study of Action (philosophy). It is focused mainly on Hippocampus, particularly Pattern separation.

The most cited articles from the last journal are:

  • Evidence for a Third Visual Pathway Specialized for Social Perception. (30 citations)
  • Structuring Knowledge with Cognitive Maps and Cognitive Graphs. (24 citations)
  • The Psychology of Fake News (22 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 Trends in Cognitive Sciences (based on the number of publications) are:

  • Mark Wexler (25 papers) absent at the last edition,
  • Nick Chater (24 papers) absent at the last edition,
  • Heidi Johansen-Berg (22 papers) absent at the last edition,
  • Stanislas Dehaene (17 papers) absent at the last edition,
  • Karl J. Friston (14 papers) absent 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 Trends in Cognitive Sciences (based on the number of publications) are:

  • Harvard University (140 papers) published 5 papers at the last edition, 3 less than at the previous edition,
  • University College London (134 papers) published 8 papers at the last edition, 1 less than at the previous edition,
  • Max Planck Society (114 papers) published 2 papers at the last edition, 4 less than at the previous edition,
  • University of Oxford (96 papers) published 5 papers at the last edition, 5 less than at the previous edition,
  • University of Cambridge (74 papers) published 3 papers at the last edition, 1 less than at the previous 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, 6.82% of publications had an unrecognized affiliation. Out of the publications with recognized affiliations, 28.46% were posted by at least one author from the top 10 institutions publishing in the journal. Another 10.57% included authors affiliated with research institutions from the top 11-20 affiliations. Institutions from the 21-50 range included 19.51% of all publications and 41.46% 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 Pathways in Cognitive Sciences

In the wide and fascinating field of cognitive sciences, many professionals may wonder about the concrete career paths available to them. Depending on your area of interest within cognitive sciences, various options might suit you best. For instance, if you are keen on the practical application of cognitive science theories and methodologies, a path in applied psychology or counseling may be a good fit for you.

Besides, certain job roles might require you to obtain specific certifications to enhance your credibility and competence. For instance, becoming a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) can open doors to opportunities in creating and implementing behavior intervention plans. If you are interested in this route, you might find this guide on how to become a BCBA in Massachusetts online helpful.

No matter which path you choose, maintain a continuous learning mindset. The field of cognitive sciences is rapidly progressing with constant developments. Staying up-to-date with the latest research, participating in ongoing professional development, and gaining practical experience through internships or fieldwork can significantly enhance your career in cognitive sciences.

Top Publications

  • The Psychology of Fake News

    Gordon Pennycook;David G. Rand

    (2021)
    988 Citations
  • Linking Structure and Function in Macroscale Brain Networks.

    Laura E. Suárez;Ross D. Markello;Richard F. Betzel;Bratislav Misic

    (2020)
    796 Citations
  • Why Are Self-Report and Behavioral Measures Weakly Correlated?

    Junhua Dang;Kevin M. King;Michael Inzlicht

    (2020)
    587 Citations
  • Pupil Size as a Window on Neural Substrates of Cognition.

    Siddhartha Joshi;Joshua I. Gold

    (2020)
    570 Citations
  • Theta Oscillations in Human Memory.

    Nora A. Herweg;Ethan A. Solomon;Michael J. Kahana

    (2020)
    515 Citations
  • Social Media and Well-Being: Pitfalls, Progress, and Next Steps

    Ethan Kross;Philippe Verduyn;Gal Sheppes;Cory K. Costello

    (2021)
    397 Citations
  • Evidence for a Third Visual Pathway Specialized for Social Perception.

    David James Pitcher;Leslie G. Ungerleider

    (2021)
    346 Citations
  • Peer Influence in Adolescence: Public-Health Implications for COVID-19.

    Jack L. Andrews;Lucy Foulkes;Sarah Jayne Blakemore

    (2020)
    287 Citations

Related Online Degrees & Career Pathways

Exploring psychology in the USA opens diverse avenues for further education and career advancement. For those looking to quickly enter the workforce, jobs that only require a certificate can provide a fast track to well-paying roles in fields such as behavioral health or counseling support. These certifications often offer flexible online options, allowing students to balance other responsibilities.

Many students, including online school for moms, benefit from programs designed with flexibility in mind. These courses enable parents to pursue psychology studies without compromising their family commitments, thanks to asynchronous learning schedules and supportive virtual communities.

For individuals seeking concentrated learning experiences, 6 week courses offer targeted education in specific psychology topics or skills. This format is ideal for professionals needing to update their knowledge or explore new specialties without a long-term commitment.

Those aiming for advanced credentials may consider accelerated options like a 6 months masters degree, which provides an intensive and comprehensive pathway to higher qualifications. These programs often blend foundation coursework with practical application, preparing graduates for diverse psychology careers efficiently.

Best Scientists Contributing to This Journal