journals

Journals we keep an eye on related to human motor control, robotics, and control. The default view is a short list. Sort by impact factor, publications, or name to see every journal on file. See also the conference deadlines.

Impact factor ranks poorly against standing in this field — Journal of Neurophysiology (2.3) is a more selective venue for human motor control than most journals sorted above it.

Behavioural motor control findings

A controlled human experiment, or a model of one, with a result that matters to people who study movement.

Journal of Neurophysiology2 papers here
The default home for human motor control experiments. Low JIF, high standing.
motor controlneuroscienceJIF 2.3 · 2025
Journal of Neuroscience
Broader neuroscience audience; expects a mechanistic claim.
neurosciencemotor controlJIF 4.3 · 2025
PLOS Computational Biology
Models and simulation-based evidence; strong motor control readership.
neurosciencemotor controlJIF 3.6 · 2024
Biological Cybernetics
Theory and models of biological and artificial control systems.
motor controlcontrolJIF 2.0 · 2025

Broad-interest findings

A result meant for readers beyond the field — or sound work that simply needs a broad, general home.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS)
Direct submission or the NAS-member contributed track.
generalistneurosciencemotor controlJIF 9.5 · 2025
Nature Communications1 paper here
Broad reach without the Nature/Science triage. Substantial APC.
generalistneuroscienceroboticsJIF 18.1 · 2025
Current Biology
Short-format biology with a real motor control readership.
generalistneurosciencemotor controlJIF 7.7 · 2025
Scientific Reports2 papers here
Reviewed for soundness rather than novelty. A home for sound work, not a signal of impact.
generalistneurosciencebiomechanicsJIF 4.9 · 2025

Robotics: methods & control

An algorithm, controller, or manipulation method with thorough experimental characterisation.

IEEE Transactions on Robotics (T-RO)1 paper here
The archival venue for robotics methods. Accepted papers may be presented at ICRA/IROS.
roboticscontrolJIF 11.1 · 2025
The International Journal of Robotics Research (IJRR)
Long-form robotics; expects thorough experimental characterisation.
roboticsmanipulationJIF 7.7 · 2025
IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters (RA-L)2 papers here
Fast monthly cycles, 8 pages. Option to present at ICRA or IROS in the right window.
roboticsmanipulationJIF 5.3 · 2025

Robotics: systems & flagship

A system that does something previously impossible, deployed and benchmarked.

Science Robotics
For a system that does something previously impossible. Presubmission inquiry recommended.
roboticsJIF 25.5 · 2025
Nature Machine Intelligence
Learning-heavy robotics and embodied intelligence.
roboticslearningJIF 29.8 · 2025
IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine (RAM)1 paper here
Rolling, but articles are frequently solicited. Tutorials and accessible overviews.
roboticsmanipulationJIF 9.8 · 2025

Also on file

Everything else on file — relevant venues that did not make a shortlist above, plus a few kept for reference.

Nature
Presubmission inquiry strongly recommended. Very low acceptance rate.
generalistneuroscienceJIF 56.1 · 2025
Science
Presubmission inquiry recommended.
generalistneuroscienceroboticsJIF 47.3 · 2025
Nature Human Behaviour
Behavioural science framing — a fit for motor learning and adaptation studies.
generalistneurosciencemotor controlJIF 17.5 · 2025
Journal of Biomechanics
The core biomechanics journal, but musculoskeletal rather than neural in emphasis.
biomechanicsJIF 2.9 · 2025
Nature Biomedical Engineering
Exoskeletons, prosthetics, and neuroprosthetics with a clinical claim.
generalistrehabroboticsJIF 26.3 · 2025
Science Advances
Broad and selective, but far less of a lottery than Science itself.
generalistneuroscienceroboticsJIF 13.9 · 2025
Behavioral and Brain Sciences
Target article plus open peer commentary. For a field-level argument.
neurosciencemotor controlJIF 8.2 · 2025proposal
IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering (TNSRE)
The engineering venue for rehabilitation and neural interfaces.
rehabmotor controlJIF 6.6 · 2025
Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation (JNER)
Clinically oriented; expects patient-relevant outcomes.
rehabbiomechanicsJIF 6.0 · 2025
Current Opinion in Neurobiology
Themed issues, commissioned by editors.
neurosciencemotor controlJIF 5.6 · 2025invited
IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering (TBME)
Broad biomedical engineering; methods-first framing.
rehabbiomechanicsJIF 4.4 · 2025
eNeuro
Open-access sister of J. Neurosci.; publishes negative and confirmatory results.
neurosciencemotor controlJIF 2.6 · 2025
Experimental Brain Research
Long-running venue for careful human movement experiments.
motor controlneuroscienceJIF 2.1 · 2025
ASME Journal of Dynamic Systems, Measurement & Control
Dynamic systems modelling, measurement, and control. Long-running, modest JIF today.
controlroboticsJIF 1.2 · 2025
eLife
Reviewed-preprint model — public reviews, no accept/reject, and so no JIF.
neurosciencemotor controlJIF not assigned
Digital Discovery
RSC venue for machine learning and automation in chemistry — self-driving labs. Not in JCR.
automationlearningnot in JCR

Earlier work

Journals from earlier CT imaging work. Kept for the record, not a recommendation.

Medical Physics1 paper here
From earlier CT fluence-modulation work at UW–Madison.
medical imagingJIF 3.2 · 2025
Physics in Medicine & Biology1 paper here
From earlier CT fluence-modulation work at UW–Madison.
medical imagingJIF 3.1 · 2025
Journal of Medical Imaging (SPIE)1 paper here
From earlier CT fluence-modulation work at UW–Madison.
medical imagingnot in JCR

Impact factors are from the 2025 JCR release via ooir.org. Paper counts come from the publication list. Missing something? Let us know or open a pull request on _data/journals.yml. Last updated August 24, 2026.