Mathematical & computational theory
Formal derivations, simulations, mechanistic models, or theoretical analyses with explicit assumptions and assessable consequences.
AUTHOR RESOURCES
Instructions for authors
Prepare a clear, inspectable contribution to models and mechanisms of conscious experience.
Aims and scope
CMM is a journal of mathematical theory, computation, and experiment on conscious experience and its mechanisms. Explicit mathematical and computational models form its organizing principle. We publish model construction, analysis, and comparison, and empirical studies that test models, constrain their parameters, or distinguish their predictions.
A contribution should make the explanatory target precise, state its assumptions, and show how a model connects to observables. New mathematics is not required in every paper; every paper must advance explicit models or the evidence by which they can be assessed. Competing frameworks are welcome. No single theory of consciousness defines the journal’s scope.
Article types
Model-based empirical research
Experiments and quantitative analyses that test, compare, or constrain explicit models. Negative and replication results are welcome when informative.
Methods & measurement
Measurement models, calibration procedures, identifiability analyses, benchmarks, or methods for reliable model evaluation.
Research note
A focused formal result, model comparison, replication, or resource with a clearly delimited scientific contribution.
Evidence synthesis
Critical or systematic comparisons of models and evidence, with transparent selection and evaluation methods.
Registered Reports are planned for a later stage. A protocol is not treated as a Registered Report unless the journal has explicitly accepted it into that workflow.
Structure your manuscript
Include a title, author names and affiliations, corresponding author contact, an abstract of up to 250 words, and 4–8 keywords. Use numbered sections and readable figure captions. Initial submission is format-flexible: use any consistent scholarly reference style.
The abstract should identify the explanatory target, the model or comparison, the method, the main result, and its limits. Distinguish exploratory analysis from confirmatory tests. Explain how the study changes what can be inferred about competing accounts.
Mathematics, models & computation
Define symbols, units, variables, parameters, domains, and boundary conditions. State assumptions and distinguish definitions, derivations, approximations, and empirical claims. Number equations that are referenced. Put detailed proofs and derivations in an appendix where that improves readability.
Where relevant, report identifiability, parameter estimation, uncertainty, model recovery, comparison criteria, and sensitivity to alternative assumptions. Supply enough code, software versions, random seeds, and analysis instructions to inspect the reported result. Clearly distinguish fit to existing data from predictions tested on new observations.
Accepted files & Overleaf
PDF · DOC · DOCX · ODT · RTF
Readable main manuscript. PDF is recommended for mathematical work.
ZIP · TEX · BIB · CSV · TXT · PNG · JPG · SVG
Optional source package, bibliography, figures, or supporting files.
For Overleaf, download both the compiled PDF and the project source ZIP. Submit the PDF as the main manuscript and the ZIP as a supporting file. Include the main .tex file, .bib bibliography, local styles, and required figures. Remove secrets and unrelated material. An Overleaf sharing link does not replace the deposited files.
The initial portal supports up to five files: one main manuscript and four supporting files, 25 MB per file and 50 MB total. Larger datasets and software should use a suitable research repository; cite a private access link when needed for review. Archives are stored as private attachments and are not automatically extracted or compiled.
Declarations & research integrity
Declare author contributions, funding, conflicts of interest, ethics approval and consent where applicable, preregistration, data and code availability, and relevant restrictions on sharing. Confirm all coauthors have approved the submission. Identify related preprints or overlapping work. Do not upload identifiable participant data.
Disclose generative AI used in writing, analysis, code, figures, or development of claims, including tool names and the nature of their contribution. Authors remain accountable for mathematics, analyses, references, and conclusions. AI systems cannot be authors.
Submission & editorial correspondence
Use the submission portal and retain the reference and downloadable receipt displayed after successful deposit. No Google account or author account is required. No reviewer nominations or editor preferences are requested. These are determined through the journal’s AI-based review and human editorial oversight.
The receipt confirms technical deposit, not acceptance into review or publication. For a revision, quote the existing reference and explain the changes. No payment is collected by the submission form. Any publication charges and rights agreement must be disclosed and agreed separately before publication.
Download the preparation checklist ↓Download the optional LaTeX starter ZIP ↓ Go to the submission portal →FOR AUTHORS
Bring your model into focus.
Read the author guide, prepare your files, and explore the submission portal.