Cortex Template
Get your Cortex paper right the first time: a ready-made structure with the right abstract and citations, so editors see your science, not formatting slips.
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How to Use the Cortex Template | A Step-by-Step Guide
Authored by Sumalatha Gangadhar | Published on 7 August, 2026
Submitting to Cortex goes smoothly when your draft already matches the journal's own rules. Editors screen new manuscripts against the Cortex guide for authors before peer review, so formatting, structure, and required statements should be right on the first draft rather than repaired during upload. This template sets that structure up for you.
What is the Cortex Template?
It is a manuscript shell aligned to Cortex. It covers front matter, the abstract the journal expects, a body organized to the journal's article types, and a reference list in the journal's required style. Confirm current scope and article types on the Cortex journal page before you draft.
What's actually in a Cortex submission:
Prepare the title, authors, affiliations, and ORCID iDs. Write the abstract to the journal's rule and word limit, organize the body to the article type, and apply the required reference style from the first citation. Complete every declaration (ethics, competing interests, funding, data availability) the Cortex guide for authors lists, and cite figures and tables in order.
What separates a clean submission from one that gets kicked back:
The common failure modes are formatting or reference style that does not match the guide for authors, missing required statements, and an incomplete portal checklist. Clear all three against the Cortex guide for authors before you submit.
What does this Cortex Template include?
The shell mirrors what editorial staff check first: article-type fit, the abstract rules, required declarations, and the journal's reference style. For more detail see the author resources. When your draft is ready, upload it through Editorial Manager.
Steps to Use This Template with SciSpace Agent
- Click Start Writing on this page. The SciSpace Agent prompt screen opens with the template loaded.
- Use the loaded template, or upload a version your group already uses for Cortex.
- Edit the prompt with your topic and article type, and note any requirement from the Cortex guide for authors.
- Run the prompt. The agent drafts into the correct structure and reference style.
- Use View Outputs to verify required statements and formatting are present.
- Export and submit through Editorial Manager.
Cortex Template Structure at a Glance
| Element | Cortex requirement |
|---|---|
| Abstract | Concise and factual abstract not exceeding 250 words. Must briefly state the purpose of research, principal results and major conclusions. Abstracts must be able to stand alone. Avoid references (if essential, cite author(s) and year(s)). Avoid non-standard or uncommon abbreviations (if essential, define at first mention). No distinction by article type specified - same requirement applies to all articles requiring abstracts |
| Main text | Reviews: No word or reference limit. Research reports: No word or reference limit. Other article types have specific formats (e.g., Commentaries require no abstract; Clinical Postcards are very short insights) |
| Declarations | Ethics approval/consent as applicable; competing interests; funding; data availability |
| Figures/tables | Publication-ready; cited in order |
| Supplemental | Upload separately when used |
| Keywords | 1 to 7 keywords required for indexing purposes. Should be written in English. Avoid keywords consisting of multiple words (using 'and' or 'of'). Only use abbreviations if firmly established in the field |
| References | American Psychological Association (APA) style. Refers to Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Seventh Edition (2020) ISBN 978-1-4338-3215-4. Citations in text follow APA format (Author, Year). Reference list arranged alphabetically then chronologically. At initial submission, references can be in any style or format as long as consistent; APA style applied after acceptance at proof stage |
| Peer review | Single anonymized review process (single-blind review). Submission initially assessed by editors for suitability, then typically sent to minimum of two reviewers for independent expert assessment of scientific quality |
| Submission | www.editorialmanager.com/cortex/Default.aspx |
Quick Tips for Using the Cortex Template
Read the Cortex guide for authors once before drafting and once before upload. Draft the abstract after results are stable. Set the reference style before adding citations. Keep a cover letter that states your contribution and fit to Cortex in under a page.
Best Practices
Skim two or three recent Cortex papers to calibrate depth and figure style. Make the novelty clear in the first two pages. Deposit data and code when the policy on the Cortex journal page requires it. Disclose any preprint or conference version with identifiers in the cover letter.
Before You Submit: Final Check
Do one focused pass against the Cortex guide for authors: scope, length, reference style, required declarations, and figure quality. Then submit through Editorial Manager.
