Please limit abbreviations to those in common use, and avoid other abbreviations and acronyms. Manuscripts should contain novel, original data. Authors of articles reporting mostly confirmatory, fragmentary or preliminary findings may be notified within 2 weeks that their manuscript will not be submitted to formal review. Such a proposal will be made by the associate Editors assisted by one member of the Editorial Board. This procedure is intended to provide rapid feedback to authors of manuscripts which have a poor chance of being accepted.
Authors have the opportunity to appeal against the decision.
Contributors should know that one of the criteria considered in reviewing manuscripts is the humane and proper treatment of animals. The editors realize that the use of anesthetics, analgesics, and tranquilizers would defeat the purpose of some experiments. However, the use of painful or otherwise noxious stimuli must be carefully and thoroughly justified in the paper. Papers that do not meet these criteria will not be accepted for publication. Rapid communications are reviewed by two members of the Editorial Board.