A 20‐year perspective – from Journal of Gastrointestinal Motility to Neurogastroenterology and Motility

This review traces the origins of this journal as the consequence of a revolution in academic publishing that started in Oxford 50 years ago. It also traces the expansion of the field of gastrointestinal motility by the development of new methodology that prompted both the creation of learned societies and a role for a journal devoted to this field. The problems that arose because the new journal was an ‘orphan journal’ lacking a parent society are recounted, as are the events that eventually led to its adoption. Finally, the introduction of the term ‘neurogastroenterology’ into scientific and clinical parlance is explained.