Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42507624›Full record

ArticlePLoS computational biology2026

Twelve quick tips for AI-assisted coding in science.

Eric W Bridgeford, Iain Declan Campbell, Zijiao Chen, Zhicheng Lin, Harrison Ritz, Joachim Vandekerckhove, Russell A Poldrack

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PLoS computational biology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. SpikeLab: Agentic tools for spike data analysis.bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology · 2026
    Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Eric W BridgefordDepartment of Psychology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6115-719X
Iain Declan CampbellPrinceton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, United States of America.
Zijiao ChenDepartment of Psychology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America.
Zhicheng LinDepartment of Psychology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.
Harrison RitzPrinceton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, United States of America.
Joachim VandekerckhoveDepartment of Cognitive Sciences, University of California, Irvine, California, United States of America.
Russell A PoldrackDepartment of Psychology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

While AI coding tools have demonstrated potential to accelerate software development, their use in scientific computing raises critical questions about code quality and scientific validity. In this paper, we provide twelve practical tips for AI-assisted coding that balance the capabilities of AI with the demands of scientific and methodological rigor. We address how AI can be leveraged strategically throughout the development cycle with four key themes: problem preparation and understanding, managing context and interaction, testing and validation, and code quality assurance and iterative improvement. These principles serve to emphasize maintaining human agency in coding decisions, establishing robust validation procedures, and preserving the domain expertise essential for methodologically sound research. These tips are intended to help researchers harness AI's transformative potential for faster software development while ensuring that their code meets the standards of reliability, reproducibility, and scientific validity that research integrity demands.

Indexed as

Artificial IntelligenceComputational BiologyHumansReproducibility of ResultsSoftware

Identifiers

PMID42507624
PMCPMC13405308

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.