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27 July 2023
MDPI Insights: The CEO's Letter #2 - Open Peer-Review and IJERPH

Welcome to the MDPI Insights: The CEO's Letter.
In these monthly letters, I will showcase two key aspects of our work at MDPI: our commitment to empowering researchers and our determination to facilitating open scientific exchange.
Opening Thoughts
Open Peer Review Reports
Continuing the topic of openness from my inaugural monthly CEO letter, in these Opening Thoughts, I highlight the growth and importance of open peer-review reports at MDPI. Open peer reports align with the principles of open science, making the publishing process more transparent and facilitating rigorous peer review.
MDPI journals operate an open peer-review option by default, allowing authors to publish review reports and author responses (often referred to as open reports) together with the published paper. Publishing the reviewer reports and author responses together with the article provides greater transparency and trust for readers, as this allows them to track the editorial decision-making process. Open peer-review also encourages reviewers and editors to provide high-quality comments, as these will be made public if the article is accepted for publication.
Start and Growth of Open Peer Review at MDPI
The MDPI journal Life was a pioneer in offering this opportunity to its authors in 2014. The first MDPI article with peer-review reports openly published was a review by the Nobel Laureate Werner Arber, in which the review reports were published as supplementary material. By 2018, open peer-review was available across all MDPI journals. As such, MDPI authors have embraced the open peer-review model, providing a steady increase in the number of MDPI articles. As of 2023, approximately one-third (34.0%) of MDPI articles were published with open review reports.
As at July 2023, the percentage of MDPI articles published with open peer review has increased to 36.2% of the total papers published in 2023 so far, indicating ongoing growth in adoption.
Open peer review continues to play a critical role in the assessment of the peer-review process in Life. For further insights, please see the recent editorial by Dr. Pabulo Henrique Rampelotto, the former Editor-in-Chief of Life, who spearheaded the implementation of the open peer-review process.
Benefits of Open Peer Review
The benefits of open peer review include increased transparency, trust and constructive feedback. To promote open communication further and increase the robustness of the peer-review process, we encourage reviewers to sign their reports so that their name appears on the review report (this process is referred to as open identity). The default option is for reviewers to remain anonymous; however, by signing the reports, reviewers receive direct credit for their contribution to the peer-review process and show their commitment towards open science.
As the leading open access publisher, MDPI remains committed to promoting open peer-review and encourages authors to choose this approach. Our goal is to provide a rigorous and transparent peer-review process that benefits the scientific community, and we believe that open peer-review is a vital step in fostering openness and collaboration in scientific communication.
Impactful Research
MDPI Papers Cited in the News – IJERPH edition
Every month, our corporate marketing team compiles data from Altmetrics to create a list of MDPI papers that have been cited in the news. This list continues to grow as renowned news outlets regularly reference research published by MDPI in their articles.
During 2022, a total of 111,965 MDPI research papers were mentioned in prominent news outlets such as National Geographic, The Washington Post, Forbes, The Guardian, the BBC, CNN, Time, and Harvard Business Review.
Highly Cited Journal Publications
IJERPH, known for publishing impactful research, received the most news mentions among all MDPI journals in 2022, based on Altmetrics data:
- International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health: 3509 mentions
- Nutrients: 2698 mentions
- International Journal of Molecular Sciences: 1701 mentions
- Journal of Clinical Medicine: 1131 mentions
- Viruses: 1111 mentions
These numbers show the recognition and impact of the articles published in IJERPH. For a more detailed view of the journal’s most cited and viewed papers, you can visit here. In total, IJERPH has garnered over 28,000 mentions in prominent news outlets, and as at July 2023, an impressive count of over 17,000 papers cited 10 times or more. These figures highlight the impactful contribution of IJERPH publications to the scientific community.
Example of Recent Mentions
During May and June 2023, a noteworthy selection of articles from IJERPH was cited in news articles, including:
The Washington Post: “Bringing nature inside can improve your health. Here’s how to do it.”
IJERPH paper: “Physiological Benefits of Viewing Nature: A Systematic Review of Indoor Experiments”
Harvard Business Review: “How to Take Better Breaks at Work, According to Research”
IJERPH paper: “Canine-Assisted Therapy Improves Well-Being in Nurses”
National Geographic: “Lyme disease is spreading fast—but a vaccine may be on the way”
IJERPH paper: “Range Expansion of Tick Disease Vectors in North America: Implications for Spread of Tick-Borne Disease”
Inside MDPI
MDPI Develops an Artificial Intelligence Tool to Enhance the Peer-Review Process
At MDPI, we believe that rigorous peer-review is the corner-stone of high-quality academic publishing. We are grateful to the scholars who generously dedicate their time to peer-review articles submitted to MDPI journals. Their contributions are invaluable to the advancement of science.
Peer-review is a critical part of the publication process, ensuring that MDPI upholds the highest quality standards for the papers we publish. Every manuscript submitted to our journals undergoes a comprehensive peer-review process conducted by subject-matter experts.
To further enhance our peer-review process, our Data Analytics team has developed an Artificial Intelligence (AI) tool designed to support the selection of reviewers. This proprietary tool utilizes Natural Language Processing (NLP), a specially designed AI language model, to extract information from the title and abstract of submitted papers. It then searches our database for similar manuscripts and suggests potential reviewers based on this analysis. Integrated with MDPI's submission system (SuSy), the AI tool cross-references the suggested candidates with our reviewer database to verify their invitation status and availability.
The goal of this tool is to provide better targeted peer-review invitations, reducing the number of emails sent for each paper and increasing the efficiency of our editorial staff.
In the near future, our Data Analytics team plans to deploy similar AI projects to improve other critical aspects of our services, offering an enhanced experience to our authors and readers.
Click here to learn about MDPI’s review process, including procedures, responsibilities, and benefits.
Read more:
Coming Together for Science
The Future of IJERPH
On 5 July 2023, Prof. Dr. Paul B. Tchounwou, the founding Editor-in-Chief of IJERPH, along with five Section Editors in Chief (Prof. Dr. Germán Vicente-Rodríguez, Prof. Dr. Karl Goodkin, Prof. Dr. William A. Toscano, Prof. Dr. Jimmy T. Efird, and Prof. Dr. William Douglas Evans), gathered in Basel to discuss the future of the journal. The meeting provided an opportunity to address the recent decision by The Web of Science to delist IJERPH due to the journal failing the Content Relevance criterion, and propose best strategies that will ensure high scientific rigor as well as a clear scope and aim of IJERPH, going forward.
While the delisting is disappointing for IJERPH, as well as for our authors, academic editors, and the entire scientific community supporting our journal, we see it as an opportunity to reflect and prepare for the future direction of the journal.
Since its launch in 2004, IJERPH’s vision and mission have evolved to be more complete and comprehensive in engaging scientific communities. In light of this, we will refresh the journal’s aims and scope, ensuring they align with the organic expansion of IJERPH. Additionally, we will restructure the journal sections into broader categories, encouraging collaborative research and transdisciplinary approaches for authors. This is designed to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange among diverse fields, contributing to a holistic understanding of health promotion and disease prevention. We are confident that these next steps will enhance the scientific strength and societal impact of our journal.
Journal Achievements
In addition to the productive discussions, we took the time to celebrate some of the remarkable achievements of IJERPH, which I highlight below:
- Founded by Prof. Dr. Paul B. Tchounwou in 2004
- Indexed in PubMed in 2008
- Received its first Impact Factor in 2012
- Published its 5000th paper in 2017
- Over 60,000 papers published as at June 30, 2023
- 131,628,173 paper views in 2018–2022
- Over 28,000 mentions in prominent news outlets
- 17,000 papers cited 10 times or more as at June 30, 2023
- No.1 journal in the 2022 Google Scholar Metrics in the category of Public Health
- Awarded several editions of Young Investigator Awards, Travel Awards, and Outstanding Reviewer Awards since 2018.
These achievements showcase the journal’s significant contributions to the field and its impact on global health. We are proud of the exceptional work accomplished by the IJERPH team and look forward to building upon this success in the years to come.
Closing Thoughts
MDPI’s Impact in Spain
During the past month, I had the opportunity to visit our new office building in Barcelona, where I met with our local colleagues to discuss the ways we serve the scholarly community, particularly in Spain. The multi-functional office plays a vital role in supporting various business needs, including editorial, design, conference management, data analytics, journal relationship management, publishing partnerships, and collaborations with societies.
Spain holds a significant position in MDPI’s global market, ranking as the fourth-largest contributor to the total number of papers published by MDPI as at July 2023, ranking next to Italy, the USA, and China, with Germany completing the top five.
The Numbers
Out of the 1,680,000 total MDPI articles published as at 25 July, almost 80,000 articles are contributed by Spanish authors, representing nearly 40,000 unique authors affiliated with Spanish institutions. Remarkably, over 6,300 of these authors hold editorial board member (EBM) positions within MDPI journals, with 30 of them serving as Editors-in-Chief (EiCs).
Our commitment to working with institutions is very evident in Spain, where we have successfully established over 40 Institutional Open Access Programs (IOAP) with esteemed institutions such as the University of Barcelona, the Autonomous University of Barcelona, Pompeu Fabra University, the University of Navarre, and Complutense University of Madrid.
Over the past five years, we have successfully organized eight in-person conferences in Barcelona, attracting over 1,150 registrations, with two forthcoming events scheduled for 2024. Barcelona's excellent connectivity to international airports makes it easily accessible to participants from around the world. Its welcoming atmosphere provides us with the perfect environment for knowledge-sharing, networking, and contributing to the local economy.
Our growth and presence in Spain are a true testament to the incredible service we provide to the scholarly community and the relationships we foster through responsive and collaborative communication. We look forward to continuing to support Spanish scholars, providing them a valuable and trusted experience with MDPI, the leader in open access publishing.
Testimonials
I close this letter as I did in the first edition, by sharing testimonials from our stakeholders. Here are a few IJERPH testimonials from a Spanish guest editor and an author:
Guest Editor
“I want to thank the kindness, attention and professionalism of the MDPI team throughout the editorial process of the Special Issue. I believe that it is a very professional and quality editorial process.”
- Professor Víctor Arufe-Giráldez, University of A Coruña
Special Issue in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health: Physical Activity in Childhood and Adolescence
Special Issue in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health: Physical Education: Present and Future
__
Author
“I want to thank the rigor of the revisions made to the manuscripts to improve their quality, the support to the authors for the editor assignment system they have and the follow-up they carry out, for the speed in answering and in carrying out the entire process of the revision, and for doing all this at an affordable price.”
- Dr. María Paz García-Caro, University of Granada
Article in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health: Factors Associated with Suicide Attempts and Suicides in the General Population of Andalusia (Spain)
Chief Executive Officer
MDPI AG
11 July 2023
MDPI’s Newly Launched Journals in June 2023
With the first issue released in June 2023, five new MDPI journals disseminating multi-disciplinary science are due to launch, which will cover the subjects of medicine & pharmacology, biology and physical sciences.
The newly launched journals will be overseen by professional Editorial Board Members and Editors to ensure an accurate and rapid publication, rigorous peer review and broad visibility.
Please feel free to browse and discover more about the new journals below.
Journal | Founding Editor-in-Chief | Journal topics (selected) |
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Prof. Dr. Jun Ma, Peking University, China| Editorial | view inaugural issue | growth and development; diet and nutrients; school health promotion policies and practices; child health and care; adolescent health and wellbeing | view journal scope | submit an article |
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Prof. Dr. Bernd Rehm, Griffith University, Australia | Editorial | view inaugural issue | DNA and gene synthesis; synthetic transcription factors; protein engineering; viral engineering; metabolic engineering | view journal scope | submit an article |
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Prof. Dr. Varsha Gandhi, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, USA | Editorial | view inaugural issue | lymphatics; cancers associated with lymphocytes and lymphoblasts; lymphatic tissues; lymphoma; lymphoid leukemia | view journal scope | submit an article |
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Dr. Bradley Turner, University of Melbourne, Australia | Editorial | view inaugural issue | multiple sclerosis; amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; primary lateral sclerosis; atherosclerosis; systemic sclerosis | view journal scope | submit an article |
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Prof. Dr. Clemens Burda, Case Western Reserve University, USA | Editorial | view inaugural issue | Gamma ray, X-ray, and UV–Vis spectroscopies; NIR/mid-infrared/Raman spectroscopy; microwave and THz spectroscopy; high-resolution gas-phase atomic, molecular, and cluster spectroscopy; MS, NMR, and EPR spectroscopy | view journal scope | submit an article |
We wish to thank everyone who has supported the development of open access publishing. You are welcome to submit an application to the New Journal Committee (newjournal-committee@mdpi.com) if you would like to create more new journals.
3 July 2023
MDPI Insights: The CEO's Letter #1 - Open Access and Impactful Research

Welcome to the MDPI Insights: The CEO's Letter.
In these monthly letters, I will showcase two key aspects of our work at MDPI: our commitment to empowering researchers and our determination to facilitating open scientific exchange.
Opening Thoughts
The Future is Open, and MDPI is Leading the Way
I strongly believe in a future that embraces openness, where open source, open information, and open access (OA) take center stage. This belief that led me to join MDPI in 2020, and I am honored to have recently been appointed as Chief Executive Officer (CEO). In this capacity, and operating in close liaison with Dr. Lin and MDPI’s senior management, I shall work to build on Dr. Lin’s achievements of the past quarter-century. In this role, I will focus on communication initiatives to promote MDPI's remarkable work and continue to build our company as a trusted leader in OA publishing. For over two decades, MDPI has been at the forefront of reshaping the academic publishing landscape, with OA surpassing subscription-based publishing in 2020. This trajectory is deeply rooted in our history and reflects our unwavering commitment and vision for an open future.
1 Million Published Articles
2023 began with a remarkable achievement for MDPI, as we became the first OA publisher to reach the milestone of 1 million published articles. This represents 2.7 million unique authors who have trusted us with their work, or about a third of all researchers worldwide. As the world's most cited OA publisher, we are proud in sharing these significant milestones.
Our mission remains unchanged: to make science open and accessible to all. We understand the importance of knowledge access, empowering researchers to stay at the forefront of a rapidly changing world. Our diverse range of journals covers a wide spectrum of disciplines, offering cutting-edge insights, trusted tools, and crucial knowledge to address global challenges.
Liberating Science
As the world’s leading OA publisher, MDPI is actively liberating science. We are committed to eliminating the frustrations researchers and the general public face when accessing information, ensuring it is not locked behind paywalls. We firmly believe that everyone has a right to information, and our commitment to open access publishing drives our work.
In this inaugural edition of Insights: The CEO's Letter, I draw inspiration from the upcoming 20th anniversary of the Berlin Declaration on Open Access. Its stated mission reminds us that true impact is achieved when knowledge is widely and readily available to society:
"Our mission of disseminating knowledge is only half complete if the information is not made widely and readily available to society”
Impactful Research
MDPI Publishes Impactful Research: Recognized by Leading Indexing Databases
MDPI journals are indexed in every single top database in the world.
As of June 2023, we have 214 journals indexed within Web of Science, 223 indexed within Scopus, 87 indexed within PubMed and PMC, and 17 indexed within MEDLINE, and these numbers increase every month. We constantly strive to expand the coverage of our journals within leading multi-disciplinary and scope-specific databases, resulting in an incredibly broad range of journals that are indexed within a variety of databases. MDPI has active relationships with approximately 65 well-known databases around the world, and we continue to expand our portfolio every year so that your work can be found, cited, and referenced with ease.
Continued Growth of MDPI Journals
The 2022 Scopus and Web of Science journal citation metrics were officially released in June, and I am pleased to report that 31 MDPI journals received their first CiteScore, taking the total number of journals with a CiteScore to 216. The number of MDPI journals receiving an Impact Factor (IF) also continues to grow with 111 receiving their first, by being covered in the ESCI, bringing our total number of journals with an IF to 208 of which 41 journals received an IF above 4.0. Looking at 2022 CiteScores in the Scopus database, 80% of MDPI journals have a score that ranks them in Q1 or Q2 in at least one subject category.
Publishing impactful science would not be possible without all of our authors, editors and reviewers. Thank you for your contribution and continued support! Together we share the latest scientific insights faster and ensure that your work is accessible to all.
Read more
Inside MDPI
Preprints.org: Clarivate adds the Preprint Citation Index to the Web of Science
At MDPI, we are dedicated to driving the advancement of science. Through our initiative, Preprints.org, researchers can publish their work and gain valuable feedback from the broader research community, ensuring rapid progress in their respective fields. This is particularly crucial during times of health and climate challenges, where timely dissemination of findings is essential.
Increased Visibility for Preprints
I am pleased to share that Clarivate recognizes the significance of preprints and has taken a crucial step to enhance their visibility. Clarivate has added the Preprint Citation Index to the Web of Science, encompassing preprints published not only on Preprints.org but also on other reputable repositories.
Looking ahead, the future of preprints appears promising, bolstered by the recent indexing announcement from the Web of Science. As a result, preprints will receive increased visibility, serving as a valuable resource for staying informed about the latest research developments.
Read more
What are Preprints?
The Pros and Cons of Preprints
Preprints and COVID-19
Preprints—The Future of Open Access Publishing?
Coming Together for Science
The First International Conference on Antioxidants: Sources, Methods, Health Benefits and Industrial Applications
In this edition of ‘Coming Together for Science,’ I am pleased to highlight the First International Conference on Antioxidants organized by our conference team in the beautiful city of Barcelona, Spain. The conference attracted over 130 attendees, who engaged in 42 talks, and 89 poster presentations spread across several sessions.
Working Together
Under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Alessandra Napolitano (Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples ‘Federico II’, Naples, Italy) and Prof. Dr. Rosa M. Lamuela Raventos (Department of Nutrition, Food Sciences and Gastronomy, University of Barcelona, Spain) as chairs, and supported by the committee members, 10 invited keynote speakers, poster presenters, and all the attendees, this dedicated group of academics came together to discuss the natural sources, methodologies, health benefits, and industrial applications of antioxidants.
Especially noteworthy is the positive feedback received from attendees, with 94% rating the overall organization of the conference as good or excellent. I particularly love the picture above, capturing the gathering of some of the participants. You can browse through more photos in the event gallery located here.
Managing Events With Sciforum
If you are considering hosting your own academic event, I highly recommend checking out Sciforum, MDPI's event management platform. Sciforum simplifies the entire process, making it easy to host your own event by allowing you to focus on what really matters: Science!
Read more
Closing Thoughts
Stefan Tochev, Dr. Shu-Kun Lin, Dr. Eric O. Freed, Peter Roth, Wynne Wang, Allison Yang
Viruses and Editorial Quality: Acknowledging the Dedication of our Viruses Journal Team
During a June meeting with Dr. Eric O. Freed, the founding and current Editor-in-Chief of our journal Viruses, I was reminded of the exceptional dedication of our editorial board. Meeting with Eric is a pleasure, as he has a strong commitment and clear vision for the journal. Over the course of two days, we gained a deep understanding of the journal’s expectations and focus on strategic growth, editorial board representation, and engagement.
I am pleased to share that Viruses holds a CiteScore of 7.1 (an increase of 7.57% versus the 2021 metric) and an Impact Factor of 4.7. You can view the journal statistics here. Viruses publishes highly cited papers, and is indexed in renowned databases such as Scopus, SCIE (Web of Science), PubMed, and others, and maintains affiliations with prestigious societies. Moreover, the Viruses team has recently announced an exciting upcoming event titled ‘Viruses 2024 – A World of Viruses,’ scheduled to take place in Barcelona, Spain, from 14–16 February 2024.
Testimonials
If you notice my enthusiasm regarding our editorial service, it’s because the surveys and testimonials we receive speak volumes about the experiences of our authors, reviewers, and guest editors who collaborate with MDPI. The purpose of these letters is to highlight the exceptional work that we do and the experiences we create for the scholars – thus, let me end with this testimonial from an author:
“It was a great pleasure to publish in Viruses Special Issue [Emerging Viruses in Aquaculture]. The submission process was easy. Guest editors were very helpful and provided all the guidance and support as needed. The handling of the manuscript by the Editorial Team was very fast, efficient, and professional. The reviewer’s comments were insightful, and the publication processes were remarkably rapid.”
– Ms. Magdalena Stachnik, Państwowy Instytut Weterynaryjny | PIWet
Article in Viruses: Emerging Viral Pathogens in Sturgeon Aquaculture in Poland: Focus on Herpesviruses and Mimivirus Detection
Chief Executive Officer
MDPI AG
28 June 2023
2022 Impact Factors for MDPI Journals
The 2022 citation metrics have been released in the Journal Citation Reports (JCR), and we’re pleased to announce the following results for MDPI journals:
We are thrilled to announce that 90% of our ranked MDPI journals, specifically 86 out of 96 (captured in the table below), are performing above average in Q1 or Q2. This year, Clarivate has expanded its Impact Factor (IF) awards to include journals in the Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI) and the Arts and Humanities Citation Index (AHCI), providing greater transparency for the full set of journals indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection. As a result, 111 of MDPI journals have received their first IF in 2023, with 37 journals surpassing an IF of 3.0. In total, 208 MDPI journals have been honored with an IF.
Clarivate explains that by "expanding the coverage but holding to highly selective standards, the [Impact Factor] is now a reliable indicator of trustworthiness, as well as a measure of scholarly impact, at the journal level."
Please visit our blog post where we discuss the release of the latest citation metrics with our Indexing Manager, Dr. Constanze Schelhorn, to find out what's different this time around and how to make use of different metrics available.
Journal | Impact Factor | Rank Quartile | Category |
Vaccines | 7.8 | Q1 | Immunology |
Medicine, Research & Experimental | |||
Antioxidants | 7.0 | Q1 | Food Science & Technology |
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology | |||
Chemistry, Medicinal | |||
Cells | 6.0 | Q2 | Cell Biology |
Nutrients | 5.9 | Q1 | Nutrition & Dietetics |
International Journal of Molecular Sciences | 5.6 | Q1 | Biochemistry & Molecular Biology |
Q2 | Chemistry, Multidisciplinary | ||
Journal of Theoretical and Applied Electronic Commerce Research | 5.6 | Q2 | Business |
Biomolecules | 5.5 | Q1 | Biochemistry & Molecular Biology |
Biosensors | 5.4 | Q1 | Chemistry, Analytical |
Instruments & Instrumentation | |||
Q2 | Nanoscience & Nanotechnology | ||
Fractal and Fractional | 5.4 | Q1 | Mathematics, Interdisciplinary Applications |
Marine Drugs | 5.4 | Q1 | Chemistry, Medicinal |
Pharmacology & Pharmacy | |||
Pharmaceutics | 5.4 | Q1 | Pharmacology & Pharmacy |
Nanomaterials | 5.3 | Q1 | Physics, Applied |
Q2 | Chemistry, Multidisciplinary | ||
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary | |||
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology | |||
Cancers | 5.2 | Q2 | Oncology |
Foods | 5.2 | Q1 | Food Science & Technology |
Polymers | 5.0 | Q1 | Polymer Science |
Remote Sensing | 5.0 | Q1 | Geosciences, Multidisciplinary |
Q2 | Remote Sensing | ||
Imaging Science & Photographic Technology | |||
Environmental Sciences | |||
Antibiotics | 4.8 | Q1 | Pharmacology & Pharmacy |
Q2 | Infectious Diseases | ||
Drones | 4.8 | Q2 | Remote Sensing |
Journal of Functional Biomaterials | 4.8 | Q2 | Engineering, Biomedical |
Materials Science, Biomaterials | |||
Biomedicines | 4.7 | Q1 | Pharmacology & Pharmacy |
Q2 | Biochemistry & Molecular Biology | ||
Medicine, Research & Experimental | |||
Journal of Fungi | 4.7 | Q2 | Mycology |
Microbiology | |||
Viruses | 4.7 | Q2 | Virology |
Bioengineering | 4.6 | Q2 | Engineering, Biomedical |
Gels | 4.6 | Q1 | Polymer Science |
Molecules | 4.6 | Q2 | Chemistry, Multidisciplinary |
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology | |||
Pharmaceuticals | 4.6 | Q2 | Pharmacology & Pharmacy |
Chemistry, Medicinal | |||
Toxics | 4.6 | Q1 | Toxicology |
Q2 | Environmental Sciences | ||
Biomimetics | 4.5 | Q1 | Engineering, Multidisciplinary |
Q2 | Materials Science, Biomaterials | ||
Microorganisms | 4.5 | Q2 | Microbiology |
Plants | 4.5 | Q1 | Plant Sciences |
Biology | 4.2 | Q2 | Biology |
Chemosensors | 4.2 | Q2 | Instruments & Instrumentation |
Chemistry, Analytical | |||
Electrochemistry | |||
Membranes | 4.2 | Q2 | Engineering, Chemical |
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary | |||
Chemistry, Physical | |||
Polymer Science | |||
Toxins | 4.2 | Q1 | Toxicology |
Q2 | Food Science & Technology | ||
Metabolites | 4.2 | Q2 | Biochemistry & Molecular Biology |
Batteries | 4.0 | Q2 | Electrochemistry |
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary | |||
Q3 | Energy & Fuels | ||
Catalysts | 3.9 | Q2 | Chemistry, Physical |
Journal of Clinical Medicine | 3.9 | Q2 | Medicine, General & Internal |
Land | 3.9 | Q2 | Environmental Studies |
Sensors | 3.9 | Q2 | Instruments & Instrumentation |
Chemistry, Analytical | |||
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic | |||
Sustainability | 3.9 | Q2 | Environmental Sciences (SCIE) |
Environmental Studies (SSCI) | |||
Q3 | Green & Sustainable Science & Technology (SCIE) | ||
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology (SSCI) | |||
Buildings | 3.8 | Q2 | Construction & Building Technology |
Engineering, Civil | |||
Agronomy | 3.7 | Q1 | Agronomy |
Q2 | Plant Sciences | ||
Fermentation | 3.7 | Q2 | Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology |
Pathogens | 3.7 | Q2 | Microbiology |
Agriculture | 3.6 | Q1 | Agronomy |
Diagnostics | 3.6 | Q2 | Medicine, General & Internal |
Genes | 3.5 | Q2 | Genetics & Heredity |
Journal of Intelligence | 3.5 | Q2 | Psychology, Multidisciplinary |
Lubricants | 3.5 | Q2 | Engineering, Mechanical |
Processes | 3.5 | Q2 | Engineering, Chemical |
Coatings | 3.4 | Q2 | Materials Science, Coatings & Films |
Physics, Applied | |||
Q3 | Materials Science, Multidisciplinary | ||
ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information | 3.4 | Q2 | Geography, Physical |
Q3 | Computer Science, Information Systems | ||
Remote Sensing | |||
Materials | 3.4 | Q2 | Metallurgy & Metallurgical Engineering |
Physics, Applied | |||
Physics, Condensed Matter | |||
Q3 | Materials Science, Multidisciplinary | ||
Chemistry, Physical | |||
Micromachines | 3.4 | Q2 | Instruments & Instrumentation |
Physics, Applied | |||
Chemistry, Analytical | |||
Q3 | Nanoscience & Nanotechnology | ||
Water | 3.4 | Q2 | Water Resources |
Environmental Sciences | |||
Brain Sciences | 3.3 | Q3 | Neurosciences |
Energies | 3.2 | Q3 | Energy & Fuels |
Fire | 3.2 | Q1 | Forestry |
Q2 | Ecology | ||
Life | 3.2 | Q2 | Biology |
Current Issues in Molecular Biology | 3.1 | Q3 | Biochemistry & Molecular Biology |
Horticulturae | 3.1 | Q1 | Horticulture |
Animals | 3.0 | Q1 | Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science |
Veterinary Sciences | |||
Insects | 3.0 | Q1 | Entomology |
Atmosphere | 2.9 | Q3 | Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences |
Environmental Sciences | |||
Electronics | 2.9 | Q2 | Engineering, Electrical & Electronic |
Physics, Applied | |||
Q3 | Computer Science, Information Systems | ||
Forests | 2.9 | Q1 | Forestry |
Inorganics | 2.9 | Q2 | Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear |
Journal of Marine Science and Engineering | 2.9 | Q1 | Engineering, Marine |
Q2 | Oceanography | ||
Engineering, Ocean | |||
Metals | 2.9 | Q2 | Metallurgy & Metallurgical Engineering |
Q3 | Materials Science, Multidisciplinary | ||
Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease | 2.9 | Q2 | Tropical Medicine |
Parasitology | |||
Q3 | Infectious Diseases | ||
Universe | 2.9 | Q2 | Astronomy & Astrophysics |
Physics, Particles & Fields | |||
Healthcare | 2.8 | Q2 | Health Policy & Services (SSCI) |
Q3 | Health Care Sciences & Services (SCIE) | ||
Applied Sciences | 2.7 | Q2 | Engineering, Multidisciplinary |
Physics, Applied | |||
Q3 | Chemistry, Multidisciplinary | ||
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary | |||
Crystals | 2.7 | Q2 | Crystallography |
Q3 | Materials Science, Multidisciplinary | ||
Entropy | 2.7 | Q2 | Physics, Multidisciplinary |
Magnetochemistry | 2.7 | Q2 | Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear |
Q3 | Chemistry, Physical | ||
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary | |||
Symmetry | 2.7 | Q2 | Multidisciplinary Sciences |
Actuators | 2.6 | Q2 | Instruments & Instrumentation |
Engineering, Mechanical | |||
Aerospace | 2.6 | Q1 | Engineering, Aerospace |
Behavioral Sciences | 2.6 | Q2 | Psychology, Multidisciplinary |
Current Oncology | 2.6 | Q3 | Oncology |
Machines | 2.6 | Q2 | Engineering, Mechanical |
Q3 | Engineering, Electrical & Electronic | ||
Medicina | 2.6 | Q3 | Medicine, General & Internal |
Separations | 2.6 | Q3 | Chemistry, Analytical |
Minerals | 2.5 | Q2 | Mining & Mineral Processing |
Mineralogy | |||
Geochemistry & Geophysics | |||
Children | 2.4 | Q2 | Pediatrics |
Diversity | 2.4 | Q2 | Biodiversity Conservation |
Q3 | Ecology | ||
Journal of Cardiovascular Development and Disease | 2.4 | Q3 | Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems |
Mathematics | 2.4 | Q1 | Mathematics |
Photonics | 2.4 | Q3 | Optics |
Veterinary Sciences | 2.4 | Q1 | Veterinary Sciences |
Fishes | 2.3 | Q2 | Marine & Freshwater Biology |
Fisheries | |||
Axioms | 2.0 | Q2 | Mathematics, Applied |
Systems | 1.9 | Q2 | Social Sciences, Interdisciplinary |
Tomography | 1.9 | Q3 | Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging |
Note: The Journal of Personalized Medicine's Impact Factor was omitted in the original release and will be assigned separately. Please find the data on the journal webpage in due course.
Source: 2022 Journal Impact Factors, Journal Citation Reports TM (Clarivate, 2023)
13 June 2023
Brain Sciences Receives an Increased CiteScore of 3.9

We are pleased to inform you that Brain Sciences (ISSN: 2076-3425) has received an updated CiteScore of 3.9, an increase of 26% compared with the 2021 metric. The 2022 CiteScore™ was released recently, making an assessment of the scientific influence of journals in the 2019 to 2022 period.
For more journal statistics, please visit https://www.mdpi.com/journal/brainsci/stats.
Excellent performance is inseparable from the support and dedication of all journal editors, reviewers, authors, and readers. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you who have contributed to the journal.
2 June 2023
Brain Sciences | Highly Cited Papers in 2021 in the Section “Neurodegenerative Diseases”

The “Neurodegenerative Diseases” Section aims to publish articles on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease, multiple system atrophy, prion diseases, etc.
As all of the articles published in our journal are of an open access format, you have free and unlimited access to the full text. We welcome you to read our most highly cited papers published in 2021 listed below:
1. “Cerebrospinal Fluid Biomarkers of Alzheimer’s Disease: Current Evidence and Future Perspectives”
by Donovan A. McGrowder, Fabian Miller, Kurt Vaz, Chukwuemeka Nwokocha, Cameil Wilson-Clarke, Melisa Anderson-Cross, Jabari Brown, Lennox Anderson-Jackson, Lowen Williams, Lyndon Latore et al.
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(2), 215; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11020215
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/2/215
2. “One Year Trajectory of Caregiver Burden in Parkinson’s Disease and Analysis of Gender-Specific Aspects”
by Martin Klietz, Hannah von Eichel, Theresa Schnur, Selma Staege, Günter U. Höglinger, Florian Wegner and Stephanie Stiel
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(3), 295; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11030295
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/3/295
3. “Informal Caregiving in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS): A High Caregiver Burden and Drastic Consequences on Caregivers’ Lives”
by Pavel Schischlevskij, Isabell Cordts, René Günther, Benjamin Stolte, Daniel Zeller, Carsten Schröter, Ute Weyen, Martin Regensburger, Joachim Wolf, Ilka Schneider et al.
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(6), 748; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11060748
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/6/748
4. “Cerebrospinal Fluid α-Synuclein Species in Cognitive and Movements Disorders”
by Vasilios C. Constantinides, Nour K. Majbour, George P. Paraskevas, Ilham Abdi, Bared Safieh-Garabedian, Leonidas Stefanis, Omar M. El-Agnaf and Elisabeth Kapaki
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(1), 119; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11010119
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/1/119
5. “Blood Biomarkers in Frontotemporal Dementia: Review and Meta-Analysis”
by Sofia Ntymenou, Ioanna Tsantzali, Theodosis Kalamatianos, Konstantinos I. Voumvourakis, Elisabeth Kapaki, Georgios Tsivgoulis, George Stranjalis and George P. Paraskevas
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(2), 244; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11020244
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/2/244
6. “Proteomic Profile of Saliva in Parkinson’s Disease Patients: A Proof of Concept Study”
by Monika Figura, Ewa Sitkiewicz, Bianka Świderska, Łukasz Milanowski, Stanisław Szlufik, Dariusz Koziorowski and Andrzej Friedman
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(5), 661; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11050661
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/5/661
7. “Relationship Satisfaction in People with Parkinson’s Disease and Their Caregivers: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study”
by Johanne Heine, Hannah von Eichel, Selma Staege, Günter U. Höglinger, Florian Wegner and Martin Klietz
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(6), 822; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11060822
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/6/822
8. “Informal Caregivers in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Multi-Centre, Exploratory Study of Burden and Difficulties”
by Éilís Conroy, Polly Kennedy, Mark Heverin, Iracema Leroi, Emily Mayberry, Anita Beelen, Theocharis Stavroulakis, Leonard H. van den Berg, Christopher J. McDermott, Orla Hardiman et al.
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(8), 1094; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11081094
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/8/1094
9. “Understanding the Modulatory Effects of Cannabidiol on Alzheimer’s Disease”
by Yinyi Xiong and Chae-Seok Lim
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(9), 1211; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11091211
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/9/1211
10. “Analysis of Transition of Patients with Parkinson’s Disease into Institutional Care: A Retrospective Pilot Study”
by Ida Jensen, Emily Lescher, Stephanie Stiel, Florian Wegner, Günter Höglinger and Martin Klietz
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(11), 1470; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11111470
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/11/1470
11. “Connection Lost, MAM: Errors in ER–Mitochondria Connections in Neurodegenerative Diseases”
by Ashu Johri and Abhishek Chandra
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(11), 1437; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11111437
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/11/1437
12. “Another Perspective on Huntington’s Disease: Disease Burden in Family Members and Pre-Manifest HD When Compared to Genotype-Negative Participants from ENROLL-HD”
by Jannis Achenbach and Carsten Saft
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(12), 1621; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11121621
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/12/1621
13. “Predicting Conversion from MCI to AD Combining Multi-Modality Data and Based on Molecular Subtype”
by Hai-Tao Li, Shao-Xun Yuan, Jian-Sheng Wu, Yu Gu and Xiao Sun
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(6), 674; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11060674
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/6/674
14. “Non-Immersive Virtual Reality to Improve Balance and Reduce Risk of Falls in People Diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease: A Systematic Review”
by Héctor García-López, Esteban Obrero-Gaitán, Adelaida María Castro-Sánchez, Inmaculada Carmen Lara-Palomo, Francisco Antonio Nieto-Escamez and Irene Cortés-Pérez
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(11), 1435; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11111435
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/11/1435
15. “A New NF-κB Inhibitor, MEDS-23, Reduces the Severity of Adverse Post-Ischemic Stroke Outcomes in Rats”
by Elina Rubin, Agnese C. Pippione, Matthew Boyko, Giacomo Einaudi, Stefano Sainas, Massimo Collino, Carlo Cifani, Marco L. Lolli, Naim Abu-Freha, Jacob Kaplanski et al.
Brain Sci. 2022, 12(1), 35; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci12010035
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/12/1/35
16. “Genotyping and Plasma/Cerebrospinal Fluid Profiling of a Cohort of Frontotemporal Dementia–Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Patients”
by Mara Bourbouli, George P. Paraskevas, Mihail Rentzos, Lambros Mathioudakis, Vasiliki Zouvelou, Anastasia Bougea, Athanasios Tychalas, Vasilios K. Kimiskidis, Vasilios Constantinides, Spiros Zafeiris et al.
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(9), 1239; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11091239
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/9/1239
17. “Caring for a Relative with Dementia: Determinants and Gender Differences of Caregiver Burden in the Rural Setting”
by Dagmar Schaffler-Schaden, Simon Krutter, Alexander Seymer, Roland Eßl-Maurer, Maria Flamm and Jürgen Osterbrink
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(11), 1511; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11111511
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/11/1511
18. “Unlike Brief Inhibition of Microglia Proliferation after Spinal Cord Injury, Long-Term Treatment Does Not Improve Motor Recovery”
by Gaëtan Poulen, Sylvain Bartolami, Harun N. Noristani, Florence E. Perrin and Yannick N. Gerber
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(12), 1643; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11121643
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/12/1643
19. “Psychological Impact of Parkinson Disease Delusions on Spouse Caregivers: A Qualitative Study”
by Caroline J. Deutsch, Noelle Robertson and Janis M. Miyasaki
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(7), 871; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11070871
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/7/871
20. “Early Spatial Memory Impairment in a Double Transgenic Model of Alzheimer’s Disease TgF-344 AD”
by Stephanie L. Proskauer Pena, Konstantinos Mallouppas, Andre M. G. Oliveira, Frantisek Zitricky, Athira Nataraj and Karel Jezek
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(10), 1300; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11101300
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/10/1300
18 May 2023
Brain Sciences | Highly Cited Papers in 2021 in the Section “Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience”

The mission of the “Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience” Section is to publish cutting-edge original articles and critical reviews on the molecular and cellular basis of neurological disorders. In particular, the journal covers all aspects of molecular and cellular neuroscience, from genetic analyses of human populations to tissue culture and animal models of neurological disorders. Coverage includes experimental analyses of molecular and cellular events underpinning both developmental and adult plasticity mechanisms of the normal nervous system and occurring as a consequence of neurological dysfunction and in neuronal degeneration and repair.
As all of the articles published in our journal are of an open access format, you have free and unlimited access to the full text. We welcome you to read our most highly cited papers published in 2021 listed below:
1. “The Participation of Microglia in Neurogenesis: A Review”
by Diego R. Pérez-Rodríguez, Idoia Blanco-Luquin and Maite Mendioroz
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(5), 658; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11050658
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/5/658
2. “Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS): The Repeated Bout Effect and Chemotherapy-Induced Axonopathy May Help Explain the Dying-Back Mechanism in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Other Neurodegenerative Diseases”
by Balázs Sonkodi
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(1), 108; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11010108
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/1/108
3. “Sex Differences in Dopamine Receptors and Relevance to Neuropsychiatric Disorders”
by Olivia O. F. Williams, Madeleine Coppolino, Susan R. George and Melissa L. Perreault
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(9), 1199; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11091199
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/9/1199
4. “TREM2 Regulates High Glucose-Induced Microglial Inflammation via the NLRP3 Signaling Pathway”
by Yuan Li, Weihong Long, Menghan Gao, Fangtai Jiao, Zecai Chen, Mingyuan Liu and Lu Yu
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(7), 896; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11070896
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/7/896
5. “5-Aminoisoquinolinone, a PARP-1 Inhibitor, Ameliorates Immune Abnormalities through Upregulation of Anti-Inflammatory and Downregulation of Inflammatory Parameters in T Cells of BTBR Mouse Model of Autism”
by Khaled Alhosaini, Mushtaq A. Ansari, Ahmed Nadeem, Saleh A. Bakheet, Sabry M. Attia, Khalid Alhazzani, Thamer H. Albekairi, Haneen A. Al-Mazroua, Hafiz M. Mahmood and Sheikh F. Ahmad
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(2), 249; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11020249
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/2/249
6. “The Current Role of Dexmedetomidine as Neuroprotective Agent: An Updated Review”
by Zaara Liaquat, Xiaoying Xu, Prince Last Mudenda Zilundu, Rao Fu and Lihua Zhou
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(7), 846; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11070846
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/7/846
7. “Modelling Parkinson’s Disease: iPSCs towards Better Understanding of Human Pathology”
by Sahar Avazzadeh, Jara Maria Baena, Cameron Keighron, Yajaira Feller-Sanchez and Leo R. Quinlan
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(3), 373; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11030373
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/3/373
8. “Coenzyme a Biochemistry: From Neurodevelopment to Neurodegeneration”
by Luca Mignani, Barbara Gnutti, Daniela Zizioli and Dario Finazzi
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(8), 1031; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11081031
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/8/1031
9. “Role of Vitamin E and the Orexin System in Neuroprotection”
by Maria Ester La Torre, Ines Villano, Marcellino Monda, Antonietta Messina, Giuseppe Cibelli, Anna Valenzano, Daniela Pisanelli, Maria Antonietta Panaro, Nicola Tartaglia, Antonio Ambrosi et al.
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(8), 1098; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11081098
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/8/1098
10. “Virtual Reality (VR)-Based Environmental Enrichment in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and Mild Dementia”
by Waleed Riaz, Zain Yar Khan, Ali Jawaid and Suleman Shahid
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(8), 1103; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11081103
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/8/1103
11. “Exosomes as Emerging Biomarker Tools in Neurodegenerative and Neuropsychiatric Disorders—A Proteomics Perspective”
by Boby Mathew, M. Shahid Mansuri, Kenneth R. Williams and Angus C. Nairn
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(2), 258; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11020258
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/2/258
12. “Oxidative Stress and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in Rat Offspring with Intrauterine Growth Restriction Induced by Reduced Uterine Perfusion”
by Marcelo E. Rains, Colin B. Muncie, Yi Pang, Lir-Wan Fan, Lu-Tai Tien and Norma B. Ojeda
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(1), 78; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11010078
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/1/78
13. “CSF Secretion Is Not Altered by NKCC1 Nor TRPV4 Antagonism in Healthy Rats”
by Steven W. Bothwell, Daniel Omileke, Adjanie Patabendige and Neil J. Spratt
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(9), 1117; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11091117
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/9/1117
14. “Prominent and Regressive Brain Developmental Disorders Associated with Nance-Horan Syndrome”
by Celeste Casto, Valeria Dipasquale, Ida Ceravolo, Antonella Gambadauro, Emanuela Aliberto, Karol Galletta, Francesca Granata, Giorgia Ceravolo, Emanuela Falzia, Antonella Riva et al.
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(9), 1150; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11091150
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/9/1150
15. “Searching the Dark Genome for Alzheimer’s Disease Risk Variants”
by Rachel Raybould and Rebecca Sims
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(3), 332; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11030332
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/3/332
16. “Against the Resilience of High-Grade Gliomas: The Immunotherapeutic Approach (Part I)”
by Alice Giotta Lucifero and Sabino Luzzi
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(3), 386; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11030386
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/3/386
17. “Against the Resilience of High-Grade Gliomas: Gene Therapies (Part II)”
by Alice Giotta Lucifero and Sabino Luzzi
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(8), 976; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11080976
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/8/976
18. “Development and Validation of a Long-Term 3D Glioblastoma Cell Culture in Alginate Microfibers as a Novel Bio-Mimicking Model System for Preclinical Drug Testing”
by Miodrag Dragoj, Jasmina Stojkovska, Tijana Stanković, Jelena Dinić, Ana Podolski-Renić, Bojana Obradović and Milica Pešić
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(8), 1025; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11081025
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/8/1025
19. “Shared Genetic Background between Parkinson’s Disease and Schizophrenia: A Two-Sample Mendelian Randomization Study”
by Kiwon Kim, Soyeon Kim, Woojae Myung, Injeong Shim, Hyewon Lee, Beomsu Kim, Sung Kweon Cho, Joohyun Yoon, Doh Kwan Kim and Hong-Hee Won
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(8), 1042; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11081042
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/8/1042
20. “Neuroprotective Potential of Mild Uncoupling in Mitochondria. Pros and Cons”
by Dmitry B. Zorov, Nadezda V. Andrianova, Valentina A. Babenko, Irina B. Pevzner, Vasily A. Popkov, Savva D. Zorov, Ljubava D. Zorova, Egor Yu. Plotnikov, Gennady T. Sukhikh and Denis N. Silachev
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(8), 1050; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11081050
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/8/105
10 May 2023
Meet Us at the ATS (American Thoracic Society) Conference 2023, 21–23 May 2023, Washington DC, USA

Conference: ATS (American Thoracic Society) Conference 2023
Date: 21–23 May 2023
Location: Washington DC, USA
MDPI will be attending ATS 2023 as an exhibitor; we welcome researchers from different backgrounds to visit and share their latest ideas with us.
This conference has been organized by the American Thoracic Society, and it will showcase the latest advances and discoveries in respiratory science, patient care and global respiratory health. At the conference, specialists will share and discuss the latest research and its applications to clinical, basic, and translational science in pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine.
The following MDPI journals will be represented:
- JCM;
- Medicina;
- Clinics and Practice;
- JPM;
- Cancers;
- Medicines;
- Healthcare;
- Metabolites;
- Children;
- Brain Sciences.
If you are planning to attend this conference, please do not hesitate to talk with us online. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person at booth #2606, and answering any questions that you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit the following website: https://conference.thoracic.org/.
9 May 2023
Brain Sciences | Highly Cited Papers in 2021 in the Section “Developmental Neuroscience”

The “Developmental Neuroscience” Section aims to publish articles identifying the mechanisms of neurodevelopmental processes, both normal and causing aberrant development leading to neurological disorders, from gestation through adolescence that set the foundation of the adult configuration. The scope of this Section includes a broad multidisciplinary approach to understanding clinical and basic aspects of neurodevelopment; as such, behavioral, cognitive, molecular, genetic, epigenetic, and imaging studies are particularly welcome.
As all of the articles published in our journal are of an open access format, readers have free and unlimited access to the full text. We welcome you to read our most highly cited papers published in 2021, listed below:
1. “Psychological Impact of COVID-19 Outbreak on Families of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Typically Developing Peers: An Online Survey”
by Annalisa Levante, Serena Petrocchi, Federica Bianco, Ilaria Castelli, Costanza Colombi, Roberto Keller, Antonio Narzisi, Gabriele Masi and Flavia Lecciso
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(6), 808; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11070900
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/6/808
2. “Effects of COVID-19 Lockdown on the Emotional and Behavioral Profiles of Preschool Italian Children with and without Familial Risk for Neurodevelopmental Disorders”
by Chiara Cantiani, Chiara Dondena, Elena Capelli, Elena M. Riboldi, Massimo Molteni and Valentina Riva
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(4), 477; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11040477
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/4/477
3. “A Neurodevelopment Approach for a Transitional Model of Early Onset Schizophrenia”
by Domenico De Berardis, Sergio De Filippis, Gabriele Masi, Stefano Vicari and Alessandro Zuddas
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(2), 275; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11020275
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/2/275
4. “Unveiling the Mysteries of Dyslexia—Lessons Learned from the Prospective Jyväskylä Longitudinal Study of Dyslexia”
by Kaisa Lohvansuu, Minna Torppa, Timo Ahonen, Kenneth Eklund, Jarmo A. Hämäläinen, Paavo H. T. Leppänen and Heikki Lyytinen
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(4), 427; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11040427
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/4/427
5. “Effects of Cognitive Training Programs on Executive Function in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review”
by Angela Pasqualotto, Noemi Mazzoni, Arianna Bentenuto, Anna Mulè, Francesco Benso and Paola Venuti
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(10), 1280; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11101280
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/10/1280
6. “Molecular Genetics of Microcephaly Primary Hereditary: An Overview”
by Nikistratos Siskos, Electra Stylianopoulou, Georgios Skavdis and Maria E. Grigoriou
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(5), 581; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11050581
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/5/581
7. “Developmental Language Disorder and Autism: Commonalities and Differences on Language”
by Natasa Georgiou and George Spanoudis
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(5), 589; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11050589
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/5/589
8. “A Systematic Review on the Impact of the Social Confinement on People with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Their Caregivers during the COVID-19 Pandemic”
by Yurena Alonso-Esteban, María Fernanda López-Ramón, Verónica Moreno-Campos, Esperanza Navarro-Pardo and Francisco Alcantud-Marín
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(11), 1389; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11111389
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/11/1389
9. “Evolution of the Autism Literature and the Influence of Parents: A Scientific Mapping in Web of Science”
by Noemí Carmona-Serrano, Antonio-José Moreno-Guerrero, José-Antonio Marín-Marín and Jesús López-Belmonte
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(1), 74; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11010074
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/1/74
10. “Exome Sequencing in 200 Intellectual Disability/Autistic Patients: New Candidates and Atypical Presentations”
by Floriana Valentino, Lucia Pia Bruno, Gabriella Doddato, Annarita Giliberti, Rossella Tita, Sara Resciniti, Chiara Fallerini, Mirella Bruttini, Caterina Lo Rizzo, Maria Antonietta Mencarelli et al.
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(7), 936; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11070936
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/7/936
11. “Outcome of Community-Based Early Intervention and Rehabilitation for Children with Cerebral Palsy in Rural Bangladesh: A Quasi-Experimental Study”
by Tasneem Karim, Mohammad Muhit, Israt Jahan, Claire Galea, Catherine Morgan, Hayley Smithers-Sheedy, Nadia Badawi and Gulam Khandaker
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(9), 1189; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11091189
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/9/1189
12. “Parental Stress and Disability in Offspring: A Snapshot during the COVID-19 Pandemic”
by Martina Siracusano, Assia Riccioni, Leonardo Emberti Gialloreti, Eugenia Segatori, Lucrezia Arturi, Michelangelo Vasta, Maria Cristina Porfirio, Monica Terribili, Cinzia Galasso and Luigi Mazzone
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(8), 1040; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11081040
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/8/1040
13. “Predictors of Rehabilitation Service Utilisation among Children with Cerebral Palsy (CP) in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMIC): Findings from the Global LMIC CP Register”
by Mahmudul Hassan Al Imam, Israt Jahan, Mohammad Muhit, Denny Hardianto, Francis Laryea, Amir Banjara Chhetri, Hayley Smithers-Sheedy, Sarah McIntyre, Nadia Badawi and Gulam Khandaker
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(7), 848; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11070848
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/7/848
14. “Age of Diagnosis, Fidelity and Acceptability of an Early Diagnosis Clinic for Cerebral Palsy: A Single Site Implementation Study”
by Anna te Velde, Esther Tantsis, Iona Novak, Nadia Badawi, Jane Berry, Prue Golland, Johanna Korkalainen, Robyn McMurdo, Ronda Shehata and Catherine Morgan
Brain Sci. 2022, 11(8), 1074; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11081074
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/8/1074
15. “A Multidisciplinary Telerehabilitation Approach for Supporting Social Interaction in Autism Spectrum Disorder Families: An Italian Digital Platform in Response to COVID-19”
by Ersilia Vallefuoco, Giulia Purpura, Giovanna Gison, Andrea Bonifacio, Luca Tagliabue, Fiorenza Broggi, Goffredo Scuccimarra, Alessandro Pepino and Renata Nacinovich
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(11), 1404; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11111404
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/11/1404
16. “Parenting Stress and Social Style in Mothers and Fathers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Cross-Cultural Investigation in Italy and Japan”
by Michele Giannotti, Sophia Marlene Bonatti, Sanae Tanaka, Haruyuki Kojima and Simona de Falco
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(11), 1419; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11111419
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/11/1419
17. “Dynamic Functional Network Connectivity Changes Associated with fMRI Neurofeedback of Right Premotor Cortex”
by Zhiying Long, Zhaoxi Guo, Zhitao Guo, Hang Zhang and Li Yao
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(5), 582; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11050582
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/5/582
18. “Executive Function, Working Memory, and Verbal Fluency in Relation to Non-Verbal Intelligence in Greek-Speaking School-Age Children with Developmental Language Disorder”
by Asimina M. Ralli, Elisavet Chrysochoou, Petros Roussos, Kleopatra Diakogiorgi, Panagiota Dimitropoulou and Diamanto Filippatou
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(5), 604; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11050604
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/5/604
19. “Savouring as an Intervention to Decrease Negative Affect in Anxious Mothers of Children with Autism and Neurotypical Children”
by Ariel S. Pereira, Atiqah Azhari, Chloe A. Hong, Gerin E. Gaskin, Jessica L. Borelli and Gianluca Esposito
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(5), 652; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11050652
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/5/652
20. “Caregivers’ Burden of School-Aged Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders: Implications for Family-Centred Care”
by Giulia Purpura, Luca Tagliabue, Stefania Petri, Francesco Cerroni, Andrea Mazzarini and Renata Nacinovich
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(7), 875; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11070875
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/7/875
28 April 2023
Brain Sciences | High Cited Papers in 2021 in the Section “Behavioral Neuroscience”

The “Behavioral Neuroscience” Section reports advances in our understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying behavior. This Section publishes articles with major insights into the neural mechanisms of animal and human behavior, from early development to senescence, and welcomes articles studying the interplay between behavior and its neurobiological basis, from behavioral to neurophysiological and neuroimaging studies.
As all of the articles published in our journal are of an open access format, you have free and unlimited access to the full text. We welcome you to read our most highly cited papers published in 2021 listed below:
1. “Quantitative Evaluation of Task-Induced Neurological Outcome after Stroke”
by Iqram Hussain and Se-Jin Park
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(7), 900; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11070900
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/7/900
2. “Biological Functions of Rat Ultrasonic Vocalizations, Arousal Mechanisms, and Call Initiation”
by Stefan M Brudzynski
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(5), 605; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11050605
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/5/605
3. “Theoretical Models of Consciousness: A Scoping Review”
by Davide Sattin, Francesca Giulia Magnani, Laura Bartesaghi, Milena Caputo, Andrea Veronica Fittipaldo, Martina Cacciatore, Mario Picozzi and Matilde Leonardi
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(5), 535; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11050535
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/5/535
4. “The Differential Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown on Sleep Quality, Insomnia, Depression, Stress, and Anxiety among Late Adolescents and Elderly in Italy”
by Giulia Amicucci, Federico Salfi, Aurora D’Atri, Lorenzo Viselli and Michele Ferrara
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(10), 1336; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11101336
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/10/1336
5. “Safinamide Improves Non-Motor Symptoms Burden in Parkinson’s Disease: An Open-Label Prospective Study”
by Diego Santos García, Carmen Labandeira Guerra, Rosa Yáñez Baña, Maria Icíar Cimas Hernando, Iria Cabo López, Jose Manuel Paz Gonález, Maria Gemma Alonso Losada, María José González Palmás and Cristina Martínez Miró
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(3), 316; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11030316
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/3/316
6. “Opposing Association of Situational and Chronic Loneliness with Interpersonal Distance”
by Nira Saporta, Dirk Scheele, Jana Lieberz, Fine Stuhr-Wulff, René Hurlemann and Simone G. Shamay-Tsoory
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(9), 1135; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11091135
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/9/1135
7. “From Affordances to Abstract Words: The Flexibility of Sensorimotor Grounding”
by Claudia Mazzuca, Chiara Fini, Arthur Henri Michalland, Ilenia Falcinelli, Federico Da Rold, Luca Tummolini and Anna M. Borghi
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(10), 1304; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11101304
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/10/1304
8. “Differential Alterations in Resting State Functional Connectivity Associated with Depressive Symptoms and Early Life Adversity”
by Eleonora Fadel, Heinz Boeker, Matti Gaertner, Andre Richter, Birgit Kleim, Erich Seifritz, Simone Grimm and Laura M. Wade-Bohleber
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(5), 591; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11050591
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/5/591
9. “Changes in Sleep Patterns and Disorders in Children and Adolescents with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders and Autism Spectrum Disorders during the COVID-19 Lockdown”
by Oliviero Bruni, Maria Breda, Raffaele Ferri and Maria Grazia Melegari
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(9), 1139; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11091139
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/9/1139
10. “Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Cognitive Decline: A Review of Potential Vulnerability and Protective Factors”
by Julie Legault, Cynthia Thompson, Marie-Ève Martineau-Dussault, Claire André, Andrée-Ann Baril, Guillermo Martinez Villar, Julie Carrier and Nadia Gosselin
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(6), 706; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11060706
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/6/706
11. “Neurophysiological Aspects of REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD): A Narrative Review”
by Michela Figorilli, Giuseppe Lanza, Patrizia Congiu, Rosamaria Lecca, Elisa Casaglia, Maria P. Mogavero, Monica Puligheddu and Raffaele Ferri
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(12), 1588; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11121588
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/12/1588
12. “Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Covert Versus Overt Processing of Happy, Fearful and Sad Facial Expressions”
by Antonio Maffei, Jennifer Goertzen, Fern Jaspers-Fayer, Killian Kleffner, Paola Sessa and Mario Liotti
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(7), 942; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11070942
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/7/942
13. “Sleep in Normal Aging, Homeostatic and Circadian Regulation and Vulnerability to Sleep Deprivation”
by Jacques Taillard, Claude Gronfier, Stéphanie Bioulac, Pierre Philip and Patricia Sagaspe
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(8), 1003; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11081003
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/8/1003
14. “Biological and Acoustic Sex Differences in Rat Ultrasonic Vocalization”
by Charles Lenell, Courtney K. Broadfoot, Nicole E. Schaen-Heacock and Michelle R. Ciucci
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(4), 459; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11040459
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/4/459
15. “Effects of a Cognitive-Motor Training on Anticipatory Brain Functions and Sport Performance in Semi-Elite Basketball Players”
by Stefania Lucia, Valentina Bianco, Luca Boccacci and Francesco Di Russo
Brain Sci. 2022, 12(1), 68; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci12010068
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/12/1/68
16. “Adjunctive Approaches to Aphasia Rehabilitation: A Review on Efficacy and Safety”
by Chiara Picano, Agnese Quadrini, Francesca Pisano and Paola Marangolo
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(1), 41; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11010041
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/1/41
17. “Persistence of the Effects of the COVID-19 Lockdown on Sleep: A Longitudinal Study”
by Maurizio Gorgoni, Serena Scarpelli, Anastasia Mangiaruga, Valentina Alfonsi, Maria R. Bonsignore, Francesco Fanfulla, Luigi Ferini-Strambi, Lino Nobili, Giuseppe Plazzi, Luigi De Gennaro et al.
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(11), 1520; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11111520
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/11/1520
18. “Creating a Theoretical Framework to Underpin Discourse Assessment and Intervention in Aphasia”
by Lucy Dipper, Jane Marshall, Mary Boyle, Deborah Hersh, Nicola Botting and Madeline Cruice
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(2), 183; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11020183
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/2/183
19. “Phytochemical Analysis, In Vitro Anticholinesterase, Antioxidant Activity and In Vivo Nootropic Effect of Ferula ammoniacum (Dorema ammoniacum) D. Don. in Scopolamine-Induced Memory Impairment in Mice”
by Nausheen Nazir, Mohammad Nisar, Muhammad Zahoor, Faheem Uddin, Saeed Ullah, Riaz Ullah, Siddique Akber Ansari, Hafiz Majid Mahmood, Ahmed Bari and Abdulrehman Alobaid
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(2), 259; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11020259
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/2/259
20. “The Effect of Maternal Immune Activation on Social Play-Induced Ultrasonic Vocalization in Rats”
by Kinga Gzielo, Agnieszka Potasiewicz, Ewa Litwa, Diana Piotrowska, Piotr Popik and Agnieszka Nikiforuk
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(3), 344; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11030344
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/3/344