NETWORK: Computation in Neural Systems

[David Willshaw]

`NETWORK: Computation in Neural Systems' has changed its scope.  A
shortened version of the Editorial which will appear in the next issue 
follows.



         CHANGES AT `NETWORK: COMPUTATION IN NEURAL SYSTEMS'

Journals such as `NETWORK: Computation in Neural Systems' have
exploited the essential ambiguity in such terms as `computation in
neural systems' by appealing both to those interested in the nervous
system and those interested in neurally-inspired artefacts and
algorithms. However, with the rapid expansion seen in both areas of
research, there would come a time when it would be practicable for the
journal to focus onto one of these research areas.  This time has
come. Given the underlying interest within `NETWORK' in the nervous
system, it is natural that the journal now focusses on `computational
neuroscience'.


     The journal provides a forum for integrating theoretical and
     experimental findings in computational neuroscience across 
     relevant interdisciplinary boundaries. It aims to make theor-
     etical results and methods accessible to neurobiologists, 
     psychologists and cognitive scientists. Similarly, the rapidly 
     accumulating empirical data in the neurobiological, psych-
     ological and cognitive domains will enable theorists to 
     stimulate a synthesis or provoke new models.

     
This is the new scope of `NETWORK: Computation in Neural Systems'
which is published in every issue.  `NETWORK' spans the
disciplines of mathematics, physics, computer science, psychology,
cognitive science, medicine, neurobiology, amongst others.  Work on
`computation in neural systems' as defined here refers to work on
theoretical and computational aspects of the development and
functioning of the nervous system, which can be at the level of
networks of neurons or at the cellular or the subcellular level; or
reporting new experimental neuroscience findings which are presented
within the context of a theory or model; or reporting the application
of more abstract, neural network models to problems at the
psychological, cognitive and linguistic levels; or developing and
analysing novel theories and models which have a strong and direct
inspiration from natural systems such as neurobiological systems.  In
practical terms, the only change discernable in the contents of the
journal will be that work on neural networks without a strong
biological application or inspiration other than that expressed in the
term `neural networks' now falls outside the scope of the journal.


Recent Organisational Changes at `NETWORK'

Along with the change in scope there has been an organisation change.
The journal's Editorial office has moved to Edinburgh from the
publishers, Institute of Physics Publishing (IOPP), in Bristol, UK.
Following the spirit of the closer Editorial involvement with the
journal that this change implies, members of the Editorial Board and I
welcome at all times comments and suggestions from authors, readers
and referees that will help us to improve the journal according to the
needs of the community we serve.


Abstracting and Indexing

`NETWORK is covered by the leading indexing services including
Science Citation Index, Neuroscience Citation Index, Current Contents
and Index Medicus/MEDLINE.


`NETWORK' and Electronic Publishing

IOPP has extensive experience in electronic publishing.  Here are some
of the current and future benefits of electronic publishing for
authors and readers of `NETWORK':


   Papers that are submitted electronically can appear on the website
   very soon after they have been accepted, which can be at least a 
   month before the printed journal appears.
  
   Electronic versions of papers can include full colour figures,
   and multimedia attachments can be provided free of charge; see
   www.iop.org/Journals/nfa for further details.
  
   IOPP Electronic Journals were accessed over 2.5 million times in
   1998, of which 22,000 hits were aimed at `NETWORK' articles.
  
   As from 1st January 2000, readers of all IOPP journals will have
   access to the last 10 years on-line; this means that the whole of
   `NETWORK' will be accessible in this way.

   In the longer term, IOPP is developing a web-based system of
   refereeing that should lead to even faster publication times.


In Conclusion

For full information on the changes at `NETWORK', an Editorial will
feature in the next issue of the journal.  We are confident that the
recent changes can only benefit authors and readers of `NETWORK.  I am
looking forward to establishing the journal as a premier European and
world-wide contributor to the field of computational neuroscience.

 
Professor David Willshaw
Editor-in-Chief, `NETWORK: Computation in Neural Systems'
Institute for Adaptive and Neural Computation
Division of Informatics
University of Edinburgh
2 Buccleuch Place
Edinburgh EH8 9LW
Scotland, UK

Tel: +44 (0)131 650 4404/5
Fax: +44 (0)131 650 4406

Email: neted at anc.ed.ac.uk