What is the word limit for a Brain and Spine article?

Original Research up to 6,500 words; Short communications up to 2,500 words. Other article types have their own limits, listed above.

Where do I submit a Brain and Spine manuscript?

Through the journal's own submission system. The address is in the Submission row of the Structure at a Glance table on this page. SciSpace does not submit for you.

How do I use the Brain and Spine template in SciSpace?

Click Start Writing, add your topic and article type to the prompt, review the draft against the rules on this page, then export and submit through the journal's portal.

Can I submit to Brain and Spine and another journal at the same time?

No. Journals, Brain and Spine included, expect a manuscript to be under review at one journal at a time. Wait for the decision or withdraw formally before you submit elsewhere.

What should my data availability statement say for Brain and Spine?

Say where readers can find the data behind your results: a repository with a DOI, supplementary files, or the reason the data cannot be shared. Check the Brain and Spine author guide for any required wording.

How do I know my paper fits Brain and Spine?

Read the Brain and Spine aims and scope and skim two or three recent articles. If your question, methods, and audience match what the journal publishes, you are in the right place.

Brain and Spine Template 2026: Format & Author Guidelines

Brain and Spine Template 2026

Skip the formatting guesswork for Brain and Spine: a 250-word abstract, up to 6 keywords and numbered references, set up before you write a word.

Used by 1590 researchers in last 7 days

Elsevier

Journal Templates, Research Paper Templates, Elsevier Templates

Brain and Spine examples by

Alfredo Conti

P. Smielewski

Giulia Cossu

Corrado Iaccarino

How to Use the Brain and Spine Template | A Step-by-Step Guide

Authored by Sumalatha Gangadhar | Published on 28 September, 2026

Use this Brain and Spine template when the manuscript has to match that journal before you upload it. Check the current rules on the Brain and Spine journal page.

What is the Brain and Spine Template?

It is the writing shell for Brain and Spine: title and authors, the abstract, the body, declarations, figures, and the reference list. The limits that decide a desk reject are on the journal page linked above.

What's actually in a Brain and Spine submission:

A Brain and Spine submission has a title page with authors and affiliations, an abstract of up to 250 words, keywords, the main text for your article type, declarations, the reference list, and figures and tables.

What separates a clean submission from one that gets kicked back:

An abstract that breaks the rule (an abstract of up to 250 words).
A manuscript over the length limit for its article type (Original Research up to 6,500 words; Short communications up to 2,500 words).
References that do not follow the stated style: Numbered citations in order of appearance.
The wrong number or kind of keywords (Up to 6 keywords).
A missing declaration: ethics approval, competing interests, funding, or data availability.

Read the full rules on the journal page linked above before you upload.

What does this Brain and Spine Template include?

The sections a Brain and Spine submission is built from, in order: title page, abstract, keywords, main text, declarations, references, figures, and tables. It does not replace the journal's own checklist.

Steps to Use This Template with SciSpace Agent

Click Start Writing on this page.
Keep the Brain and Spine section order. Add your topic and article type in the prompt.
Run the prompt and read the draft against the abstract and reference rules on this page.
Use View Outputs to confirm required statements are present.
Read the abstract and the title once more before you export.
Export and submit through the journal's own portal.

Brain and Spine Template Structure at a Glance

Element	Brain and Spine requirement
Abstract	An unstructured abstract of no more than 250 words
Main text	Original Research up to 6,500 words; Short communications up to 2,500 words
Declarations	Ethics approval/consent as applicable; competing interests; funding; data availability
Figures/tables	Publication-ready; cited in order
Supplemental	Upload separately when used
Keywords	Up to 6 keywords
References	Numbered citations in order of appearance
Peer review	Single-anonymous peer review
Submission	www.sciencedirect.com/journal/brain-and-spine/publish/guide-for-authors

Brain and Spine Author Guidelines in Detail

These rules come from the Brain and Spine author instructions. Journals change limits without notice, so check the current guide before you upload.

Abstract

An unstructured abstract of no more than 250 words.

Keywords

Up to 6 keywords.

Word Limits and Article Types

Original Research up to 6,500 words; Short communications up to 2,500 words.

References

Numbered citations in order of appearance.

Peer Review

Single-anonymous peer review.

Quick Tips for Using the Brain and Spine Template

Write the abstract last and count it. Brain and Spine asks for an abstract of up to 250 words.
Choose keywords to the rule: Up to 6 keywords.
Keep declarations with the manuscript, not in a separate note you might forget to upload.

Best Practices

Open the author guide once before you draft and once before you upload. Match a recent Brain and Spine paper for depth, headings, and figure style. Check the word limit for your article type before you write the discussion, not after.

Before You Submit: Final Check

The abstract meets the rule (an abstract of up to 250 words).
The word count fits your article type.
The reference style matches the author guide, and every citation has a matching entry.
The keywords follow the stated count.
Declarations are included: ethics, competing interests, funding, and data availability.
Figures are publication-ready and cited in order.

Then submit on the journal's portal, not from this page.