1. Vision Research is a journal devoted to the functional aspects of human, vertebrate and invertebrate vision and publishes experimental and observational studies, reviews, and theoretical and computational analyses. Vision Research also publishes clinical studies relevant to normal visual function and basic research relevant to visual dysfunction or its clinical investigation. Functional aspects of vision is interpreted broadly, ranging from molecular and cellular function to perception and behavior. Detailed descriptions are encouraged but enough introductory background should be included for non-specialists. Theoretical and computational papers should give a sense of order to the facts or point to new verifiable observations. Papers dealing with questions in the history of vision science should stress the development of ideas in the field.

2. Vision Research publishes both reviews and mini-reviews. A mini-review is not intended to be a comprehensive overview but a survey of recent developments in a fast-growing and active area of vision research. Reviews and mini-reviews are generally invited, but proposals for either may also be submitted to the Editor in Chief.

3. Vision Research welcomes Letters to the Editor in response to articles published in Vision Research. A letter considered for publication is sent out for review and at the same time forwarded to the author or authors of the published article. If the letter is accepted they are invited to write a prompt reply, which the reviewers of the letter are also asked to review.

4. Vision Research publishes thematic special issues covering well-defined and timely research topics. Special issues are usually edited by guest editors with one or more members of the editorial board. Proposals for special issues should be submitted to the Editor in Chief or a member of the board. Papers from special non-recurrent symposia may also be published in Vision Research and symposium organizers are encouraged to approach the Editor in Chief.

5. Vision Research does not routinely publish methods papers but will consider submissions in which methods are tested and validated on real data and the results give insight into visual function or its description.

6. The obituary policy of Vision Research is restrictive. Obituaries should be submitted to the Editor in Chief and should be not more than one printed page in length including a photograph.

7. Vision Research participates in Elsevier's Open Archives publishing program and articles are automatically made open access, at no additional cost to the author, after an 18 month embargo. Authors wanting to fund immediate open access should consult the journal's Open Access page [http://www.elsevier.com/journals/vision-research/0042-6989/open-access-options].

Research articles
Reviews
Minireviews
Letters to the Editor
Obituaries