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In this hour-long webinar, we will discuss how to prepare an informative and engaging abstract, including where to start, how to best convey the key points that will be presented, and how to effectively use the abstract submission system. Each speaker will give a brief presentation, followed by open discussion and Q&A with attendees. For more information on abstracts visit https://www.sfn.org/meetings/neuroscience-2026/call-for-abstracts.
This is a rebroadcast of a webinar from the Annual Meeting 2025 webinar series.
Q: Since my study is currently at the proposal stage and I do not have results or completed analysis yet, would it still be appropriate to submit it?
A: Your abstract is required to have results, but they may be preliminary. If you don't expect to have any results, you may consider submitting your abstract during our late-breaking submission in September.
Q: When you say people use keywords to search on the app, does that include the abstract or just the title?
A: You'll have the opportunity to select up to 3 key words during your abstract submission that are used in the search algorithm, but search will pull from both title and abstract body.
Q: What are the recommended steps to submit? How should a submitter go about finding a sponsor for membership and is membership necessary to submit?
A: Membership is required to submit an abstract. Contact our membership team for assistance with identifying your sponsor at membership@sfn.org. Once your membership is valid, you can access the submission portal on our website. Visit our How to Submit page for what to prepare https://www.sfn.org/meetings/neuroscience-2026/call-for-abstracts/how-to-submit
Q: What if your results are still preliminary at the moment of abstract submission, however, you will have made significant progress to write a “better” complete abstract within the next 3 months - how would this affect how the abstract is reviewed by the committee for acceptance or being rejected?
A: Your abstract is required to have results, but they may be preliminary, and you can add new results to your poster onsite (your abstract will not be able to be revised after submission). If you don't expect to have any results, you may consider submitting your abstract during our late-breaking submission in September.
Q: Would adding a figure or schematic okay in abstract?
A: Figures and images can be included in your abstract but will count as 500 characters toward your 2300-character limit.
Q: Is it appropriate to report the main results I have now with coming steps in the abstract, correct? For instance, can data be from an extensive proteomic experiment?
A: When considering the content of your abstract, you should state the study's research objective and rationale, summarize methods and results, and state the conclusions. You should emphasize the rationale, significance of results, and general principles. State whether the research is exploratory or confirmatory.
Q: Are there also posters based on clinical data or is the emphasis on basic science?
A: We receive abstracts that are based on clinical data.
Q: This is my first SFN abstract. How does the review work? Like, would people more specific to my field (such as imaging) review it, or is it a general committee?
A: The Program Committee is comprised of neuroscientists that represent the breadth of the field. Abstracts are assigned to review as best as possible to fit with someone who specializes in your topic.
Q: Since the project is still going after submitting the abstract, if the conclusion changes while presenting, is it fine to present the results different from those mentioned in the abstract?
A: You can add new results to your poster onsite, but your abstract will not be able to be revised after submission.
Q: Is there any specific format for the poster presentation? Are we able to present information using graphs or graphics?
Posters don't have to follow a specific format and are only limited in size to fit the poster board (6 foot wide by 4 foot tall). We'll have a webinar on how to prepare your poster later this fall! https://www.sfn.org/meetings/neuroscience-2026/call-for-abstracts/presentation-formats/poster-sessions
Q: Can we present data that has already been published, but in a different format? Specifically, part of the experiments was published across two papers, but we would like to integrate them to tell a more complex and comprehensive story.
A: Abstracts may not be submitted verbatim as they've been published elsewhere. So, if you have novel data, or if you're combining several papers, that will count as not verbatim.
Q: Do we need to submit some results and figures along with our abstract?
A: As stated in the abstract submission rules, you are required to include details of your study's results and conclusions. If your abstract does not include any conclusions, it will not be accepted by the Program Committee for presentation at this year's meeting. You may wish to submit a late-breaking abstract so you can include this data.
Q: Could you share a few more common reasons why certain abstracts are rejected?
A: Answered Live
Q: Is it better to submit early preliminary data or wait to submit late-breaking abstracts?
A: There are pros and cons to each submission type. While the late-breaking submission will give you time to gather more data, there are some downsides (submission fee is higher; abstracts would not be with their regular poster sessions, etc.). More information about the difference between regular abstract submission and the late-breaking call for abstracts is available at www.sfn.org/cfa
Q: Due to restrictions that come with working in a federal lab, would it be possible for trainees to request that their abstracts are not published?
A: Accepted abstracts can be withdrawn, so they are no longer published, but they will also not be able to be searched by attendees or presented onsite. If you'd like to discuss alternative options, contact program@sfn.org.
Q: How can we apply for a fund/grant to cover our expenses?
A: Visit our Meeting Awards page to review all the available awards https://www.sfn.org/meetings/meeting-awards
Q: For nanosymposiums, how do we know who to contact for our theme?
A: The abstract submission portal will contain a Linking Group report that will show all linking groups that have been formed and additional details. The Nanosymposium webinar has additional tips and resources https://neuronline.sfn.org/professional-development/organize-a-nanosymposium-for-neuroscience-2026
Q: Is it appropriate to submit an SfN abstract based on analysis of publicly available datasets, where the goal is to identify possible links between brain regions, gene-expression patterns, and circuit organization, as long as the abstract clearly states that the work is exploratory and hypothesis-generating?
A: Answered Live
Q: What would be an example sentence stating a preliminary result in the abstract?
A: Examples of abstracts and templates are available on SfN's website here: https://www.sfn.org/-/media/SfN/Documents/NEW-SfN/Meetings/Neuroscience-2021/Abstracts/20210614_abstracts_research_template.pdf
Q: Where are the abstracts published?
A: Abstracts are published on the Neuroscience Meeting Planner and in PDFs on our website. They are archived in perpetuity https://www.sfn.org/meetings/past-and-future-sfn-meetings
Q: When you say “onsite” do you mean that once I am attending the conference and have printed the poster, I can add the new results BUT the abstract I submitted must match my poster although I added new results?
A: Because new results have been gained in the several months since the abstract was submitted, you can indicate new information and results on your poster that may differ from the published abstract.
Q: How much detail should be included in the results section of the abstract? Specifically, should we provide sample sizes, statistical tests, and significance values for each finding we intend to present, or is it better to focus on the main results and overall interpretation?
A: Answered Live
Q: Can you submit two different abstracts?
A: SfN members are each allowed to submit one scientific abstract and one Theme K (History, Education, and Society) abstract.
Q: Is there any specific way to cite SfN abstracts? Can we add our abstracts to our google scholar?
A: Abstracts will include citations in the Neuroscience Meeting Planner. You can view examples from last year's planner for an example https://www.abstractsonline.com/pp8/#!/21171
Q: Is it necessary for authors to have a university/institute's affiliation to submit an abstract, or can they be affiliated with a voluntary organization instead?
A: Is it necessary for authors to have a university/institute's affiliation to submit an abstract, or can they be affiliated with a voluntary organization instead?
Q: How long does it take for membership to become active after applying? I would like to know so I can submit my abstract.
A: The membership process may take a few days. Contact membership@sfn.org for specific details about the application process.
Q: What if the other authors listed don’t make a free SfN account? Will this be an issue?
A: If the co-author does not create a mySfN account, you will not be able to add them to the abstract.
Speakers
Who can attend these webinars? This webinar is open access and registration is complimentary.
Will the webinars be available on demand? Yes, all webinars will be available to watch on demand after the live broadcast.
How do I access the conference on the live day? After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with the event link and the option to download calendar reminders.
What are the technology requirements for attending? Webinars are hosted on Zoom Webinar. Review instructions for joining and participating in a webinar.
Can I ask the presenters questions? Yes! You can submit questions before the webinar through the registration form. Also, during the webinar, you can submit questions through the Q&A box.
I have other questions not answered here. Email neuronline@sfn.org with any other questions.
Review SfN’s Code of Conduct, rules for virtual events in the Digital Learning Community Guidelines, and communications policies regarding dissemination of unpublished scientific data, listed below. SfN asks that conference attendees respect the sensitivity of information and data being presented that are not yet available to the public by following these guidelines:
- Do not capture or publicly share details of any unpublished data presented.
- If you are unsure whether data is unpublished, check with the presenter.
- Respect presenters' wishes if they indicate that the information presented is not to be shared.
Webinar Refund Policy
- What is the cancellation/refund policy for webinars?
If SfN changes fundamental details of the webinar (date, time, or speakers), non-member registrants may request a registration refund. To request a refund, please email neuronline@sfn.org at least 48 hours before the event. Otherwise, refunds are not provided. All webinars are complimentary to SfN members. - SfN webinars can be watched on-demand if someone is unable to attend the live broadcast.
