Neurosciences in Brazil: a bibliometric study of main characteristics, collaboration and citations

Abstract

Brazilian scientific output in the field of Neurosciences is analyzed based on articles indexed in Web of Science from 2006 to 2013 according to bibliometric indicators of production, collaboration, impact and keywords analysis. The growth rate of Brazilian scientific output is greater than global scientific production in the area, with a higher percentage of articles in English than other research areas in Brazil and Brazilian neuroscientists preferring to publish their work in foreign journals. However, Portuguese papers were also observed in domestic journals in connection mainly to one research focus--Psychiatry. Modes of production in the area are also transdisciplinary when analyzed within the scope of research topics, which branch into issues related to basic and experimental research as well as clinical research. In addition, the Brazilian Neurosciences output is highly concentrated to a small number of authors, regions, and particularly institutions, with most output coming from public universities in the southeastern and southern states. However, there is greater participation by the private sector than in other fields of knowledge (mainly private universities and hospitals). Interinstitutional collaboration occurs in 60.79 % and international collaboration in 29.40 %. Brazil's main partners in international collaboration are the USA, Colombia, Argentina and the UK. With regard to citations, journals that most cite Brazilian Neurosciences are US, English and English-language Dutch publications, but the citing authors are linked to institutions on all continents of the world. It concludes that global reach and accelerated productivity growth does not translate into excellent impact. Thus, it is suggested to conduct further studies to determine why research is scarce in the northern and northeastern states.