Transition and renewal at Learning & Memory
Scientific fields evolve, and journals must evolve with them. Few areas illustrate this more clearly than the study of learning and memory, a field currently undergoing a period of rapid transformation. Advances in computation, data science, genetics, neurobiology, and psychology are reshaping how we investigate the fundamental question of how experience is encoded, stored, and used by the brain. These developments are not only deepening our understanding of core mechanisms underlying learning and memory, but also illuminating how disruptions in these processes contribute to brain disorders.
Learning & Memory has served as a home for rigorous and innovative work in this space for over three decades. As the field evolves, so too must the journal, and in this moment, the broader publishing landscape presents real challenges, particularly for small, topically focused publications. Declines in submissions across many specialized and society journals reflect shifts in publishing incentives and the proliferation of publication venues. In navigating these challenges, we see an opportunity to reaffirm the distinctive role that a journal like Learning & Memory can play as a trusted and accessible forum for high-quality science.
This moment of change coincides with an important transition in Learning & Memory's editorial leadership. After many years of dedicated service, Jack Byrne is stepping down as Editor. His stewardship has established the journal's scientific standards and identity, and we are deeply grateful for his contributions and for the fact that he will continue to support the journal as a member of our Editorial Board. Building on this foundation, I am transitioning from Assistant Editor into the role of Executive Editor, with a commitment to both continuity and renewal.
A central component of this renewal is the restructuring of the journal's editorial team. We have established a cohort of Associate Editors and refreshed the Editorial Board. As part of this transition, some long-standing Editorial Board members are concluding their service. We extend our sincere thanks to them for their many years of dedication and their important contributions to the journal. We are equally grateful to those who are continuing to serve and to the new members that have joined us to guide Learning & Memory in its next phase.
Our goal with these editorial changes is to strengthen the community around the journal. We aim to build a network of engaged scientists who view Learning & Memory not only as a publication venue, but as a shared enterprise that serves the scientific community in ways larger journals cannot. Associate Editors and Editorial Board members will contribute to this effort through their scholarship, supporting peer review, and their connections across the field, collectively reinforcing Learning & Memory as a hub for high-quality research. Associate Editors will also help highlight emerging areas through curated article collections.
This community-centered approach is especially important for a journal published by a not-for-profit press. Our commitment is not only to scientific excellence, but also to accessibility, fairness, and service to the field. We aim to maintain reasonable publication costs, uphold rigorous and constructive peer review, and provide an inclusive platform that supports investigators across career stages and disciplines.
We invite our colleagues to be part of this effort and to help shape the journal's future by submitting their best work, participating in peer review, and helping to build a vibrant and supportive community around Learning & Memory.
Susan J. Cushman, PhD
Executive Editor
- Received May 18, 2026.
- Accepted May 18, 2026.
