The International Journal of Neurology follows the principles and guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and actively discourages all forms of publication malpractice as defined by COPE and other recognized forums in scholarly publishing.
The International Journal of Neurology aligns its editorial and ethical practices with the COPE Core Practices. Publishing ethics are taken very seriously, and the International Journal of Neurology accepts its responsibility to maintain the integrity of the scientific record to the highest possible standard.
Unbiased consideration is given to all manuscripts submitted to the International Journal of Neurology, regardless of the authors’ race, gender, religious belief, ethnicity, citizenship, political philosophy, sexual orientation, age, institutional affiliation, or academic reputation.
Handling cases of alleged misconduct
The International Journal of Neurology adheres to COPE guidance regarding the handling of misconduct and retractions, including the procedures described in COPE flowcharts. Ethical concerns are treated seriously, and the journal considers it a core responsibility to protect the integrity of the scholarly record.
The relationship between the International Journal of Neurology and its authors is based on trust, and submissions are processed in good faith. If a potential breach of ethical standards is brought to the journal’s attention, the case will be referred to the Ethics Committee of the International Journal of Neurology for investigation. This Ethics Committee is composed of the Editor-in-Chief and four members of the Editorial Board, who are appointed on a rotating basis and renewed annually. The journal follows COPE guidance on responding to whistleblowers, including the protection of anonymity where appropriate.
The Ethics Committee may seek advice from members of the Editorial Board and, where necessary, may contact the relevant author institutions to obtain additional information or support. All investigations are conducted using a balanced, objective, and fair approach, and individuals subject to allegations are given the opportunity to respond before any final decision is made.
Based on the findings of an investigation and in accordance with publishing standards, the International Journal of Neurology may recommend corrections, retractions, or other actions necessary to preserve the accuracy of the published record, following the STM Guideline for the Preservation of the Objective Record of Science (2006). All relevant parties will be informed of the outcome.
Please note
Investigations of alleged misconduct are sensitive and may require time. The International Journal of Neurology appreciates patience while cases are reviewed thoroughly. Due to the nature of ethical investigations, it may not be possible to provide a fixed timeline for resolution.
The International Journal of Neurology reserves the right to contact authors’ institutions regarding allegations of misconduct, to share manuscripts and relevant information with other editors or publishers when required under COPE procedures, to request proof of identity in cases of suspected identity fraud or impersonation, and to request access to raw data related to any manuscript under consideration or already published.
Where appropriate, the International Journal of Neurology may issue an expression of concern for a manuscript under investigation, deny correction requests that conflict with ethical standards, correct or retract accepted or published articles following a full investigation, reject or rescind acceptance of unpublished manuscripts, and decline further collaboration with individuals who engage in abusive or unprofessional behavior toward journal staff, editors, reviewers, or authors.
Respect for others
The International Journal of Neurology affirms that all individuals are entitled to courtesy, professionalism, and respect. The journal is committed to treating all parties fairly and without bias. Discrimination of any kind will not be tolerated, including discrimination based on race, age, gender, sexual orientation, disability, appearance, religion or belief, human rights, social or economic status, political philosophy, reputation, or scientific viewpoint. Threatening, bullying, harassing, or otherwise inappropriate behavior is unacceptable, and the International Journal of Neurology reserves the right to cease interaction with individuals whose conduct violates these principles.
The International Journal of Neurology reserves the right to refuse publication of content that may be considered unlawful, defamatory, offensive, or otherwise inappropriate. The journal supports the use of inclusive and culturally sensitive language and imagery and expects authors to follow recognized guidelines for inclusive scholarly communication.
If you wish to report behavior or content that you believe violates this policy, you may do so in confidence by contacting editorial@ijneurology.org.
Author roles and responsibilities
The International Journal of Neurology follows the authorship criteria established by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors. To be recognized as an author, individuals must meet all four ICMJE criteria relating to substantial contribution, drafting or critical revision, final approval of the version to be published, and accountability for the integrity of the work.
All authors must agree on authorship and author order prior to submission. Authorship must not be bought, sold, or otherwise misrepresented. Individuals who contribute to a study in a limited capacity should be acknowledged, with their consent, but not listed as authors. Authors are encouraged to provide transparent contribution statements and may use taxonomies such as CRediT.
If an authorship dispute cannot be resolved, the International Journal of Neurology may request that the relevant institutions investigate the matter. The journal will not arbitrate unresolved disputes and may suspend the review process or issue an expression of concern while an investigation is ongoing.
Submitting and corresponding author responsibilities
The submitting author is responsible for ensuring that all listed authors have approved the submission, that the manuscript is not under consideration elsewhere, and that all author information is accurate. The corresponding author serves as the primary contact throughout submission, peer review, publication, and post-publication communication.
Changes to authorship during peer review require the consent of all authors and appropriate justification. The International Journal of Neurology reserves the right to refuse authorship changes when their legitimacy cannot be established. Changes to authorship are not permitted after publication.
Generative artificial intelligence tools
The International Journal of Neurology follows COPE guidance stating that generative artificial intelligence tools cannot meet the requirements for authorship. Responsible use of such tools is permitted for drafting or editing assistance, provided that their use is transparent and does not compromise originality, accuracy, or research integrity. Authors remain fully responsible for all content.
Identity fraud, originality, and parallel submission
Any attempt at identity fraud or impersonation is considered a serious ethical violation. Parallel or duplicate submission is unethical and strictly prohibited. The International Journal of Neurology uses plagiarism-detection software, including Turnitin and iThenticate, to screen submissions for originality.
Research integrity and errors
Authors must not fabricate, falsify, or misrepresent data or results and must present their findings honestly and objectively. When errors are identified in submitted or published work, appropriate corrections, corrigenda, or retractions will be issued as necessary.
Research involving human participants or animals must comply with applicable ethical standards, including ethics committee approval and informed consent where required. Identifiable participant data may only be published with explicit consent.