Abstract Information - International Society Member (ISM) Code Users
Abstract Submission Opens May 27
Abstract submission opens Wednesday, May 27. Submit and finalize your abstract by Wednesday, June 10, 5 p.m. EDT, including payment of the nonrefundable $175 submission fee.
ISM abstract submitters must have an SfN nonmember account to access the submission site. If you have never interacted with the Society (i.e. registered for the annual meeting, applied for an award, etc.), create an account now.
Instructions for submitting an abstract with an International Society Member (ISM) abstract submission code are available via PDF. Each ISM abstract code user may submit one scientific and one Theme K (History, Education, and Society) abstract.
Only non-SfN members who have been assigned an ISM abstract submission slot number are able to access their abstract via this page. If you are an SfN member, you may submit your abstract via the main Call for Abstracts web page.
All co-authors included on abstract author blocks are required to have a free My SfN account. (Note: Membership is not required to create an account.)
Learn more about co-author requirements
Join our email list to receive annual meeting updates.
Abstract Information
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Rules for Abstract Submissions
Read over the rules for submitting an abstract for Neuroscience 2026.
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Co-Authors
All co-authors included on abstract author blocks are required to have a free My SfN account.
In August, accepted abstracts will have a three-week period where the author block of the abstract can be edited.
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Webinars
Register for the How to Organize a Nanosymposium webinar taking place April 21, noon–1 p.m. EDT.
The "How to Submit an Impactful Abstract" webinar is scheduled for May 27, noon–1 p.m. EDT.
The "How to Make and Present a Poster at the Annual Meeting" webinar is scheduled for October 7, 1–2 p.m. EDT.
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Trainee Professional Development Award
The Trainee Professional Development Award (TPDA) recognizes undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows who demonstrate scientific merit and excellence in research.
The TPDA application period opens June 16 and closes June 30.
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Justify Your Abstract Presentation
Use this letter to make the case for essential travel to attend and present an abstract at Neuroscience 2026 in Washington, D.C.
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Scientific Rigor in Annual Meeting Presentations
Accepted abstract presenters will be expected to transparently report a study’s experimental design and analytical methods in their poster or nanosymposium presentation at the annual meeting. Efforts to ensure scientific rigor include blinding, statistics, sample sizes, and replication. Error bars should be defined. Biological variables such as species, sex, age, strain, or cell line should be noted in the presentation, if applicable.
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Abstract Length
The body of the abstract should be no more than 2,300 characters, including punctuation but not spaces. Use this range as a frame of reference, then count characters and revise accordingly.
Use standard abbreviations. When using abbreviations for chemical compounds, spell it out in full for the first mention, followed by the abbreviation in parentheses. Do not abbreviate compounds in the abstract title.
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Themes and Topics
Accepted abstracts are organized into topically-based scientific sessions and Theme K sessions. Abstracts are grouped together based on the theme and topic that abstract submitters select from the themes and topics list during abstract submission. Theme and topic selections help the Program Committee to group abstracts; they do not represent the titles of annual meeting sessions.
NOTE: The themes and topics have changed from previous years. Review the list carefully to determine where your abstract would best fit.
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Presentation Formats
Abstract presentations are accepted into poster, Theme K poster, or nanosymposia sessions.
Sessioning Process
Abstracts are reviewed and assigned to topically-based sessions by the SfN Program Committee. Abstract submitters can use linking groups to suggest other presenters that they would like to be grouped with in a session.
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Theme K Poster Format
For those who submit a Theme K (History, Education, and Society) abstract, note that Theme K posters will encompass three half-days on the poster floor: Saturday p.m., Sunday a.m., and Sunday p.m. Posters should remain on display for these three half-days for casual viewing and be removed by Sunday, November 15, 5 p.m. EDT.
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Notice of Abstract Acceptance
Communications regarding abstracts are sent to presenting authors only. Other co-authors should ask their abstract's presenting author for information regarding their abstract. Presenting authors will be notified about their abstract's acceptance status in August.
Advance registration for members opens July 15. Abstract presenters must register in order to present at the annual meeting.
Abstract Submission Policies
Abstract Licensing Agreement
Review the terms of use agreed to when submitting an abstract for Neuroscience 2026.
Embargo Policy
Review SfN's embargo policy.
