Human Movement Science

The journal is devoted to pure and applied research related to the science of human movement. It provides a medium for publishing disciplinary and multidisciplinary studies on human movement. It brings together psychological, biomechanical and neurophysiological research on the control, organization and learning of human movement, including the perceptual support of movement. The journal also encourages submissions from the fields of sport and exercise science and kinesiology provided that the work expands knowledge and understanding of human movement. This can include articles that focus on performance analyses, and artificial intelligence/machine learning. The overarching goal of the journal is to publish articles that help advance theoretical understanding of the control and organization of human movement, as well as changes therein as a function of development, learning, and rehabilitation. The nature of the research reported may vary from fundamental theoretical or empirical studies to more applied studies in the fields of, for example, sport, dance and rehabilitation with the proviso that all studies have a distinct theoretical bearing. The journal is less keen on work that is descriptive in nature or that has limited generalizability outside a specific population pool or sample.

Also, we consider both systematic and meta-analytical reviews of human movement. Narrative reviews are by invitation only and are generally reserved for established scholars; please contact the Editor-in-Chief or the relevant Section Editor for a discussion.

These aims and scope imply that purely descriptive studies are not acceptable, while methodological articles are only acceptable if the methodology in question can have a significant impact on the development of new directions in understanding the control and organization of human movement. The same holds for articles on exercise physiology, which in general are not supported, unless they speak to the control and organization of human movement. In general, it is required that the theoretical message of articles published in Human Movement Science is, to a certain extent, innovative and not dismissible as just "more of the same."

Human Movement Science will consider hypothesis-driven analyses and exploratory analyses for which the need for exploration can be motivated; the exploratory nature of any such analysis should be clearly stated. In line with its commitment to publishing methodologically sound studies, Human Movement Science now offers the possibility to publish high-powered hypothesis driven research and high-impact replications as Registered Reports. Through pre- registration of hypotheses and methodology and results-independent editorial decisions, this article type neutralizes many questionable research practices incentivised by today's publish-or-perish pressures.

In addition to regular issues, special issues addressing a single theme or topic will be published. The journal has now appointed a dedicated Section Editor to focus on special issues and invited reviews. The journal will look to publish 1-2 special issues per annum. In case of special issues, the above criteria may be softened if the guest editor(s) is (are) of the opinion that this will further the insight into the theme of the special issue in question. Special issues containing articles based on papers presented at conferences and workshops or consisting of a "target article" followed by peer commentaries are also admissible.