Journal Policy on Use of Generative AI
1. Authorship and Accountability
Generative AI tools cannot be listed as authors. Authors are responsible for all submitted content, including AI-assisted material. Verify claims, citations, data, code, and figures, and check that use of the tool respects copyright, privacy, and confidentiality.
2. Manuscript Preparation
Generative AI may assist with manuscript preparation under human oversight. Disclose its use for drafting, substantive rewriting, translation, or generating other manuscript content. Basic spelling, grammar, punctuation, and reference-formatting checks do not require disclosure.
3. Research Methods and Figures
If AI contributes to research procedures such as data generation, analysis, modelling, or code development, describe the tool, version where available, its role, and relevant procedures and validation in the Methods section or equivalent. Distinguish synthetic data and simulations from observations. Do not use AI to fabricate evidence or deceptively alter results. If an explanatory illustration uses generative AI, verify its accuracy and rights of use, and disclose the tool and its role in the caption.
4. Disclosure
For manuscript preparation, disclose the tool, version where available, purpose, and affected parts in the Acknowledgment section at submission. Update the disclosure if the use changes and retain it in the published article. Describe research use in the Methods section as stated above. A declaration is required only when the policy calls for disclosure.
5. Use by Reviewers and Editors
Do not upload confidential material to external generative AI services, including manuscripts, excerpts, figures, tables, review reports, and editorial correspondence. Reviewers must conduct scientific assessment independently, and editors remain responsible for editorial decisions. General language assistance must preserve confidentiality. Reviewers must disclose any substantive AI assistance in preparing a report to the handling editor, identifying the tool and purpose.
6. Editorial Assessment
The journal may request clarification if a concern arises. Authors will have an opportunity to respond. The journal will assess any action under its Publication Ethics policy.
Last updated: 12 November 2026