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Frontiers in Neurology
✅ Strengths and Merits
- Open-access and Highly Cited
- One of the most cited open-access journals in Clinical Neurology. According to 2017 JCR data, it ranked first in total citations.
- Broad Indexing and Transparent Policies
- Indexed in PubMed Central, Scopus, DOAJ, and Web of Science.
- Member of COPE and OASPA.
- Publishes peer review reports and discloses reviewer identities after publication.
- Fast Turnaround Time
- Average time from submission to acceptance is ~90 days.
- Uses an interactive peer-review system to streamline revisions.
⚠️ Criticisms and Concerns
- Perception of Superficial Peer Review
- Reports of reviewers missing key points or submitting superficial assessments.
- Authors and reviewers note pressure to avoid rejecting submissions.
- Controversies Over Editorial Practices
- Listed by Beall’s list (2015) as a potentially predatory publisher (now removed).
- Internal disputes and retractions have occurred in some Frontiers journals.
- Allegations that the publisher prioritizes profit and special issue volume over quality control.
- Mixed Reputation in Academia
- Some academic institutions may consider it a second-tier journal.
- Concerns exist about the academic rigor of certain article types and special topics.
📊 Journal Metrics Snapshot
- Impact Factor: ~3.5–5
- CiteScore: ~3.3–4.6
- SJR: Q2 in Neurology
- Review time: ~90 days
- Indexed in: PubMed, PMC, Scopus, WoS
🧭 Submission Suitability
- Recommended for:
- Broad dissemination of clinically relevant or incremental findings.
- Authors needing fast open-access publication.
- Use caution when:
- Publishing novel, high-impact, or methodologically complex work.
- Relying on peer-review rigor for academic validation or tenure.
📝 Conclusion
*Frontiers in Neurology* offers fast, open-access publication with wide visibility. However, concerns about peer review depth and editorial standards warrant careful consideration—especially for high-stakes research.
Bottom line: Suitable for routine or timely studies. For seminal work, consider society journals with more stringent editorial boards.