Call for Abstracts
Abstract Submission Is Now Closed
Presenting authors of abstracts will be emailed in August regarding their abstract's acceptance status.
Until then, there are several things that can be done to prepare for the annual meeting.
- Print receipts: Access your submission using the button above to print a receipt for the $170 abstract submission fee. Log in to your SfN account to print a receipt for membership fees.
- Review abstract presentation formats: Learn more about abstract presentation formats and virtual posters.
- Review registration information: Remember, payment of the $170 abstract submission fee does not include registration for the annual meeting. Abstract presenters must register to present at the annual meeting.
- Request a visa letter of invitation: If you will be traveling to Neuroscience 2025 from outside the United States, review visa information and start gathering required travel documents.
- Apply for a Trainee Professional Development Award: Undergraduate, graduate, and postdoc abstract submitters are eligible to win a Trainee Professional Development Award. Applications period: June 10–June 24.
Join our mailing list to receive annual meeting updates.
Justify Your Abstract Presentation
Use this letter to make the case for essential travel to attend and present an abstract at Neuroscience 2025 in San Diego.
Download Justification Letter TemplateAbstract Submission
The call for Neuroscience 2025 abstracts is May 21–June 4. In addition, there will be a call for late-breaking Neuroscience 2025 abstracts September 3–10. Get to know the difference between the two submission periods.
| Category | Regular Call for Abstracts | Late-Breaking Call for Abstracts |
|---|---|---|
| Max Total Number of Abstracts | No max number of total abstracts accepted. | Max of 1,000 total late-breaking abstracts; submission site will close once this number is reached. |
| Dates | May 21–June 4, 5 p.m. EDT | September 3–10 or until cap of 1,000 abstracts is reached. |
| Submission Fee | $170 | $255 |
| Abstract Type(s) | Each SfN member can submit: 1 scientific abstract (Themes A–J) and/or 1 Theme K (History, Education, and Society) abstract | 1 scientific abstract (Themes A–J) |
| Presentation Formats | Nanosymposium, Poster, or Theme K Poster | Late-breaking poster only Note: The late-breaking poster session is located in a separate section of the poster floor than the abstracts submitted in May and June. |
| Placement by Program Committee | Grouped into sessions with abstracts in similar areas of research. | Grouped with all other late-breaking abstracts in the same general theme (A–J). |
| Linking Groups | Use linking groups to indicate to the Program Committee that you wish to be sessioned with your colleagues in the same poster or nanosymposium session. | No linking groups. |
Abstract Information
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Notice of Abstract Acceptance Status
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 will open July 16. Abstract presenters must register in order to present at the annual meeting.
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Co-Authors
All co-authors included on abstract author blocks are required to have a free My SfN account. Submitters of abstracts that were finalized ($170 abstract submission fee paid) by the deadline can unlock and edit any section of their finalized abstracts until the editing deadline Friday, June 6, 2 p.m. EDT.
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
Watch on demand the How to Organize a Nanosymposium webinar from April 21.
Watch on demand the How to Submit an Impactful Abstract webinar from May 20.
Get ready for the "How to Make and Present a Poster at the Annual Meeting" webinar taking place October 7, 1 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 in June. Applicants will be notified of their acceptance by the end of August.
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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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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.
Late-breaking abstracts will be placed in late-breaking poster sessions with the other late-breaking abstracts in their general scientific theme.
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Presentation Formats
Abstract presentations are accepted into either poster, Theme K poster, or nanosymposia sessions.
Late-breaking abstracts will only be accepted into late-breaking poster sessions.
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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. Each image included reduces the character count by 500 characters.
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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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, Theme K poster, nanosymposium, or late-breaking poster 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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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 16, 5 p.m. EDT.
Abstract Submission Policies
Rules for Abstract Submission
Read over the rules for submitting an abstract to Neuroscience 2025.
Abstract Licensing Agreement
Review the terms of use agreed to when submitting an abstract for Neuroscience 2025.
Embargo Policy
Review SfN's embargo policy.
