May 2013 PMID 23571845

Power failure: why small sample size undermines the reliability of neuroscience.

Katherine S Button, John P A Ioannidis, Claire Mokrysz, Brian A Nosek, Jonathan Flint, Emma S J Robinson, Marcus R Munafò

Mentions

253
Peak: 26 in May 2023
across 7 sources since Apr 2013

Extended reach

370,801
potential audience

Total likes

138

Video views

1,616

Mentions per month

Apr 2013 – Sep 2025

Where it's discussed

  • Blogs88 articles
  • X / Twitter61 posts
  • News51 articles
  • Facebook39 posts
  • Bluesky5 posts
  • Reddit5 posts
  • YouTube4 videos

AI synopsis

What people are saying

Overall, the discussions show strong consensus on the crucial message of the article, with posts emphasizing the need for larger sample sizes and better research practices. Words like 'must read,' 'important overview,' and 'game changer' convey a sense of urgency and influence, indicating high impact and engagement.

AgreementStrong agreement

Most discussions highlight the importance and validity of the article, indicating strong agreement with its claims about the issues in neuroscience research.

InterestHigh interest

Posts demonstrate high interest, frequently recommending the paper and discussing its concepts, such as statistical power and reproducibility.

EngagementHigh engagement

Users actively engage by referencing related studies, sharing resources, and discussing methodological implications, showing deep involvement.

ImpactHigh impact

Many acknowledge the article's significance, emphasizing its role in shaping scientific practices and its relevance for improving research reliability.

Abstract in brief

  • Low statistical power in neuroscience studies decreases the chances of identifying true effects and increases the likelihood that significant findings are false positives.
  • The current research shows that most neuroscience studies have very low power, leading to overestimated effect sizes and results that are hard to replicate.
  • Improving reproducibility in neuroscience requires following proven methodological principles to ensure more reliable and ethical research outcomes.]

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Marcus Munafò
@MarcusMunafo · X

It's ten years (!) since @ButtonKate and myself (w many others) published "Power Failure: why small sample size undermines the reliability of neuroscience" in @NatRevNeurosci. Today, we have the @CommonsSITC report on reproducibility. https://t.co/XVxC7WkJdq

May 10, 2023 · 72 likes · 27 shares · 6,195 followers View post →
Edoardo Marcora
@marcora · X

@heimbergecon Granted in my opinion statistical significance assuming nil hypothesis is a concept that should be retired as the gatekeeper of scientific significance, how meaningful are non significant results when you have this? https://t.co/0g33Bu7VXh

Sep 9, 2025 · 6 likes · 260 followers View post →
Felix Jan Nitsch
@felixjannitsch · X

My Youtube-Series on Open Neuroscience & Psychology is now almost two years old. Thinking about doing a Marketing Version in the future.. @giladfeldman @AaronCharlton https://t.co/CKhZ5r5PjZ

Aug 16, 2022 · 4 likes · 1 share · 399 followers View post →
Felix Jan Nitsch
@felixjannitsch · X

For this semester's online teaching I created 3 videos on why, how and caveats of doing #openscience. https://t.co/z4aKGwGSt5 Grateful for all kinds of feedback

Nov 5, 2020 · 4 likes · 1 share · 399 followers View post →
@NL_Wetenschap
@NL_Wetenschap · X

Methoden worden matig gedeeld. Data is moeilijk te verkrijgen ('it's my data'). De grootte van studies is te klein, waardoor effecten worden overschat en #wetenschap onethisch, niet-effectief en verspillend is. https://t.co/Iz0Z10LUcU 7/ https://t.co/2EWFURKsNx

Apr 10, 2022 · 2 likes · 3 shares · 19,225 followers View post →
Megan Hagenauer
@MHagenauer · X

@HenryYin19 I recommend this paper as a good overview of the issue: "Power failure: why small sample size undermines the reliability of neuroscience" by Button et al. (2013) https://t.co/UaC21KYXFf

Nov 8, 2023 · 2 likes · 2 shares · 574 followers View post →

All mentions

Shiro Ishii Jr
@HirohitoTopGuy · X

@FilipeGS97 @OssosPrateados @margaretmelonii @rafaelgloves A neurociência da inteligência ainda está no início. Replicação de estudos é baixa, poder estatístico é limitado e pouca pesquisa multivariada é feita https://t.co/tHr8LgYyi7

Sep 9, 2025 · 1 like · 268 followers View post →
Edoardo Marcora
@marcora · X

@heimbergecon Granted in my opinion statistical significance assuming nil hypothesis is a concept that should be retired as the gatekeeper of scientific significance, how meaningful are non significant results when you have this? https://t.co/0g33Bu7VXh

Sep 9, 2025 · 6 likes · 260 followers View post →
Edouard Machery
@edouardmachery.bsky.social · Bluesky

Surely you know that paper: Button, K. S., Ioannidis, J. P., Mokrysz, C., Nosek, B. A., Flint, J., Robinson, E. S., & Munafò, M. R. (2013). Power failure: why small sample size undermines the reliability of neuroscience. Nature reviews neuroscience, 14(5), 365-376.

May 25, 2025 · 1 share View post →
ReproducibiliTea
@ReproducibiliT · X

Jan 21, 2025 · 3,911 followers View post →
ReproducibiliTea
@reproducibilitea.org · Bluesky

Jan 21, 2025 · 1 share View post →
Matt Rosenblatt
@RosenblattMatt · X

Combined with publication bias, underpowered studies may lead to effect size inflation (Yarkoni and Braver https://t.co/acokP13FRe; Button et al. https://t.co/lIT9eetdbI). These arise because a small test sample requires a large effect to achieve significance.

Aug 1, 2024 · 2 likes · 191 followers View post →
Carlisle Rainey
@carlislerainey · X

Button et al. (2013) "Power failure: why small sample size undermines the reliability of neuroscience" Open Access: https://t.co/rRTJnex9KU  https://t.co/VX7zS3gKLn

Jun 8, 2024 · 1 like · 1 share · 2,135 followers View post →
Ansh Bharadwaj
@Richtwis · X

RT @MHagenauer: @HenryYin19 I recommend this paper as a good overview of the issue: "Power failure: why small sample size undermines the r…

Nov 8, 2023 · 2 shares · 112 followers View post →
Kevin Mitchell
@WiringTheBrain · X

RT @MHagenauer: @HenryYin19 I recommend this paper as a good overview of the issue: "Power failure: why small sample size undermines the r…

Nov 8, 2023 · 2 shares · 40,161 followers View post →
Megan Hagenauer
@MHagenauer · X

@HenryYin19 I recommend this paper as a good overview of the issue: "Power failure: why small sample size undermines the reliability of neuroscience" by Button et al. (2013) https://t.co/UaC21KYXFf

Nov 8, 2023 · 2 likes · 2 shares · 574 followers View post →
Pierre Mégevand
@pierre_vanmedge · X

RT @dmgroppe: Is there a good, recent update to this 2013 paper on how neuroscience studies are under-powered? https://t.co/o3ltpGjp4v

Sep 17, 2023 · 1 share · 1,303 followers View post →
David Groppe
@dmgroppe · X

Is there a good, recent update to this 2013 paper on how neuroscience studies are under-powered? https://t.co/o3ltpGjp4v

Sep 16, 2023 · 1 like · 1 share · 395 followers View post →
Eliphaleth Carmona
@Eliphaleth · X

Resultados similares han sido reportados para trabajos de evolución, psicología, neurociencias, epidemiología, biomedicina, economía, and so on. E.g. https://t.co/EcfwOUz58d https://t.co/F987ycBlMp https://t.co/V9oDJ2Xm8Q

Aug 6, 2023 · 1,346 followers View post →
Armand Chatard
@armand_chatard · X

RT @MarcusMunafo: It's ten years (!) since @ButtonKate and myself (w many others) published "Power Failure: why small sample size undermine…

May 14, 2023 · 27 shares · 599 followers View post →
Christian Bokhove
@cbokhove · X

RT @MarcusMunafo: It's ten years (!) since @ButtonKate and myself (w many others) published "Power Failure: why small sample size undermine…

May 13, 2023 · 27 shares · 6,204 followers View post →
Florian Naudet
@NaudetFlorian · X

RT @MarcusMunafo: It's ten years (!) since @ButtonKate and myself (w many others) published "Power Failure: why small sample size undermine…

May 13, 2023 · 27 shares · 2,546 followers View post →
Alejandro Sandoval-Lentisco
@Alejand31463005 · X

RT @MarcusMunafo: It's ten years (!) since @ButtonKate and myself (w many others) published "Power Failure: why small sample size undermine…

May 13, 2023 · 27 shares · 91 followers View post →
Fiona Fidler
@fidlerfm · X

RT @MarcusMunafo: It's ten years (!) since @ButtonKate and myself (w many others) published "Power Failure: why small sample size undermine…

May 13, 2023 · 27 shares · 2,145 followers View post →
Rednecklefty
@rednecklefty · X

RT @MarcusMunafo: It's ten years (!) since @ButtonKate and myself (w many others) published "Power Failure: why small sample size undermine…

May 13, 2023 · 27 shares · 918 followers View post →
Brian Nosek (@briannosek@nerdculture.de)
@BrianNosek · X

RT @MarcusMunafo: It's ten years (!) since @ButtonKate and myself (w many others) published "Power Failure: why small sample size undermine…

May 13, 2023 · 27 shares · 28,343 followers View post →
Kate Button
@ButtonKate · X

RT @MarcusMunafo: It's ten years (!) since @ButtonKate and myself (w many others) published "Power Failure: why small sample size undermine…

May 13, 2023 · 27 shares · 1,348 followers View post →
Luke Clark
@LukeClark01 · X

RT @MarcusMunafo: It's ten years (!) since @ButtonKate and myself (w many others) published "Power Failure: why small sample size undermine…

May 13, 2023 · 27 shares · 2,073 followers View post →
Hywel Nicholas Arnold
@headinq · X

RT @MarcusMunafo: It's ten years (!) since @ButtonKate and myself (w many others) published "Power Failure: why small sample size undermine…

May 11, 2023 · 27 shares · 181 followers View post →
Rebecca Willén
@rmwillen · X

RT @MarcusMunafo: It's ten years (!) since @ButtonKate and myself (w many others) published "Power Failure: why small sample size undermine…

May 11, 2023 · 27 shares · 1,200 followers View post →
rafael mello galliez
@RafaelGalliez · X

RT @MarcusMunafo: It's ten years (!) since @ButtonKate and myself (w many others) published "Power Failure: why small sample size undermine…

May 11, 2023 · 27 shares · 147 followers View post →
Kate
@MyelomaAmateur · X

RT @MarcusMunafo: It's ten years (!) since @ButtonKate and myself (w many others) published "Power Failure: why small sample size undermine…

May 11, 2023 · 27 shares · 943 followers View post →
Kevin Mitchell
@WiringTheBrain · X

RT @MarcusMunafo: It's ten years (!) since @ButtonKate and myself (w many others) published "Power Failure: why small sample size undermine…

May 11, 2023 · 27 shares · 40,161 followers View post →
Prof. Narender Ramnani
@n_ramnani · X

RT @MarcusMunafo: It's ten years (!) since @ButtonKate and myself (w many others) published "Power Failure: why small sample size undermine…

May 11, 2023 · 27 shares · 2,365 followers View post →
Dr Isabel N Christie
@izzynchristie · X

RT @MarcusMunafo: It's ten years (!) since @ButtonKate and myself (w many others) published "Power Failure: why small sample size undermine…

May 11, 2023 · 27 shares · 659 followers View post →
Mariah Hoye
@mariahhoye · X

RT @MarcusMunafo: It's ten years (!) since @ButtonKate and myself (w many others) published "Power Failure: why small sample size undermine…

May 10, 2023 · 27 shares · 508 followers View post →
Fernando Blanco
@FBpsy · X

RT @MarcusMunafo: It's ten years (!) since @ButtonKate and myself (w many others) published "Power Failure: why small sample size undermine…

May 10, 2023 · 27 shares · 7,948 followers View post →
Gilad Feldman
@giladfeldman · X

RT @MarcusMunafo: It's ten years (!) since @ButtonKate and myself (w many others) published "Power Failure: why small sample size undermine…

May 10, 2023 · 27 shares · 6,051 followers View post →
DeSci Foundation
@DesciFoundation · X

RT @MarcusMunafo: It's ten years (!) since @ButtonKate and myself (w many others) published "Power Failure: why small sample size undermine…

May 10, 2023 · 27 shares · 10,096 followers View post →
SandraZ
@z_sazae · X

RT @MarcusMunafo: It's ten years (!) since @ButtonKate and myself (w many others) published "Power Failure: why small sample size undermine…

May 10, 2023 · 27 shares · 191 followers View post →
Andrew Stewart
@ajstewart_lang · X

RT @MarcusMunafo: It's ten years (!) since @ButtonKate and myself (w many others) published "Power Failure: why small sample size undermine…

May 10, 2023 · 27 shares · 1,149 followers View post →
Dr Hazel Phillips
@corylus · X

RT @MarcusMunafo: It's ten years (!) since @ButtonKate and myself (w many others) published "Power Failure: why small sample size undermine…

May 10, 2023 · 27 shares · 1,403 followers View post →
Matthew Grainger
@Ed_pheasant · X

RT @MarcusMunafo: It's ten years (!) since @ButtonKate and myself (w many others) published "Power Failure: why small sample size undermine…

May 10, 2023 · 27 shares · 2,582 followers View post →
Hugh Shanahan
@HughShanahan · X

RT @MarcusMunafo: It's ten years (!) since @ButtonKate and myself (w many others) published "Power Failure: why small sample size undermine…

May 10, 2023 · 27 shares · 1,088 followers View post →
Marcus Munafò
@MarcusMunafo · X

It's ten years (!) since @ButtonKate and myself (w many others) published "Power Failure: why small sample size undermines the reliability of neuroscience" in @NatRevNeurosci. Today, we have the @CommonsSITC report on reproducibility. https://t.co/XVxC7WkJdq

May 10, 2023 · 72 likes · 27 shares · 6,195 followers View post →
Boussageon Rémy
@BoussageonR · X

@lakens @sauvikdasgupta And what do you think of this article? The authors write that sample size has an impact on type 1 error, too.. https://t.co/Apa8bUapXz

Apr 15, 2023 · 1 like · 623 followers View post →
Kia Gluschkoff
@KGluschkoff · X

3⃣ Pienen tilastollisen voiman seuraukset: Power failure: why small sample size undermines the reliability of neuroscience https://t.co/DCjX25R68U Twiittiketju: https://t.co/SZE00pMU5D Tilastollinen voima tieteen toistettavuusongelman kannalta https://t.co/RXoKZKOO5B

Mar 27, 2023 · 1 like · 171 followers View post →
Doing Science Differently Podcast
@DoSciDiff · X

@OSFramework @Bayer @Amgen Learn more about the importance of large sample sizes for statistical power and #research reliability. https://t.co/eryICb17L3 In relation to #neuroscience > https://t.co/vtApTZ6fUz 

Nov 20, 2022 · 97 followers View post →
Kevin Mitchell
@WiringTheBrain · X

@Timothy0Leary Maybe this will help: Power failure: why small sample size undermines the reliability of neuroscience | Nature Reviews Neuroscience

Oct 28, 2022 · 40,161 followers View post →
Gilad Feldman
@giladfeldman · X

RT @felixjannitsch: My Youtube-Series on Open Neuroscience & Psychology is now almost two years old. Thinking about doing a Marketing Versi…

Aug 16, 2022 · 1 share · 6,057 followers View post →
Felix Jan Nitsch
@felixjannitsch · X

My Youtube-Series on Open Neuroscience & Psychology is now almost two years old. Thinking about doing a Marketing Version in the future.. @giladfeldman @AaronCharlton https://t.co/CKhZ5r5PjZ

Aug 16, 2022 · 4 likes · 1 share · 399 followers View post →
Dion Kobussen
@kobus5 · X

RT @NL_Wetenschap: Methoden worden matig gedeeld. Data is moeilijk te verkrijgen ('it's my data'). De grootte van studies is te klein, waar…

Apr 13, 2022 · 3 shares · 1,245 followers View post →
Van Zeeland
@VanZeelandSoest · X

RT @NL_Wetenschap: Methoden worden matig gedeeld. Data is moeilijk te verkrijgen ('it's my data'). De grootte van studies is te klein, waar…

Apr 10, 2022 · 3 shares · 634 followers View post →
@NL_Wetenschap
@NL_Wetenschap · X

Methoden worden matig gedeeld. Data is moeilijk te verkrijgen ('it's my data'). De grootte van studies is te klein, waardoor effecten worden overschat en #wetenschap onethisch, niet-effectief en verspillend is. https://t.co/Iz0Z10LUcU 7/ https://t.co/2EWFURKsNx

Apr 10, 2022 · 2 likes · 3 shares · 19,225 followers View post →
Roberto Toro r3rt0@mstdn.social r3rt0.bsky.social
@R3RT0 · X

@KordingLab "Why Most Published Research Findings Are False" and "Power failure: why small sample size undermines the reliability of neuroscience" should count as well

Apr 4, 2022 · 1 like · 1 share · 3,836 followers View post →
Lindy Links
@LinksLindy · X

Power failure: why small sample size undermines the reliability of neuroscience - Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 8 years old https://t.co/eIMqnaxlTf

Feb 18, 2022 · 307 followers View post →
G M Masum Billah
@guitarfishmasum · X

RT @T_Weissgerber: Data organization in spreadsheets: https://t.co/y6R9WEVUSJ Power failure: Why small sample size undermines the reliabil…

Jan 18, 2022 · 1 share · 1,861 followers View post →
Tracey Weissgerber is on LinkedIn
@T_Weissgerber · X

Data organization in spreadsheets: https://t.co/y6R9WEVUSJ Power failure: Why small sample size undermines the reliability of neuroscience: https://t.co/Da780krYps What exactly is ‘N’ in cell culture and animal experiments: https://t.co/m4M5bsEYVI

Dec 17, 2021 · 1 share · 2,335 followers View post →
Logic Geometry, Information
@LGcommaI · X

#IoannidisPowerFailure-1 [#Erkenntnistheorie:#Epistemology #ScientificMethod #Wahrheit:#Truth] "Nature Reviews Neuroscience 14(5), pp. 365–376 (2013) Power failure: why small sample size undermines the reliability of #neuroscience K. S. Button J. P. A. Ioannidis C. Mokrysz > https://t.co/uP6QMTnHmn

Oct 17, 2021 · 13,910 followers View post →
Matt Price
@MRPsci · X

Power failure: why small sample size undermines the reliability of neuroscience https://t.co/yBFpio17AP

Jun 27, 2021 · 1 followers View post →
Pablo Corral MD
@drpablocorral · X

Power failure: why small sample size undermines the reliability of neuroscience | Nature Reviews Neuroscience https://t.co/X1Y7YYs6ge

Dec 22, 2020 · 11,202 followers View post →
Jamie Collins
@CollJamie · X

Power failure: why small sample size undermines the reliability of neuroscience - https://t.co/VJMO8AFsYY

Dec 16, 2020 · 1 like · 537 followers View post →
Open Science
@_open_science_ · X

RT @felixjannitsch: For this semester's online teaching I created 3 videos on why, how and caveats of doing #openscience. https://t.co/z4…

Nov 5, 2020 · 1 share · 11,849 followers View post →
Felix Jan Nitsch
@felixjannitsch · X

For this semester's online teaching I created 3 videos on why, how and caveats of doing #openscience. https://t.co/z4aKGwGSt5 Grateful for all kinds of feedback

Nov 5, 2020 · 4 likes · 1 share · 399 followers View post →
Psychopharmacology group
@psychopharmbris · X

"Power failure: why small sample size undermines the reliability of neuroscience" https://t.co/uvY3PooyFc

Aug 10, 2020 · 2 likes · 455 followers View post →
novomedinilla
@novomedinilla · X

REFERENCIA : Button KS, Ioannidis JP, Mokrysz C, Nosek BA, Flint J, Robinson ES, & Munafò MR (2013). Power failure: why small sample size undermines the reliability of neuroscience. Nature reviews. Neuroscience, 14 (5), 365-76 PMID: 23571845

Apr 9, 2020 · 14,191 followers View post →
Meta-Research
@MetaResearchSci · X

Power failure: why small sample size undermines the reliability of neuroscience (Nat Rev Neuro, 2013) via /r/metaresearch https://t.co/cQRzkJM0p5

Jan 28, 2019 · 1 like · 182 followers View post →
Leonhard Schilbach
@leoschilbach · X

Power failure: why small sample size undermines the reliability of neuroscience https://t.co/4DHwpop7RP

Jan 8, 2019 · 6,738 followers View post →
Anthony Ellis
@skydog811 · X

Power failure: why small sample size undermines the reliability of neuroscience https://t.co/RHV0FpxDdH

Jan 3, 2019 · 53,524 followers View post →
Neuroscience Information Framework
@neuinfo.org · Bluesky

Power failure: why small sample size undermines the reliability of neuroscience @doi:10.1038/nrn3475] bit.ly/15ebNAd

May 3, 2013 View post →
Ye Olde Christlet
@christletx.bsky.social · Bluesky

Must read! Power failure: why small sample size undermines the reliability of neuroscience http://www.nature.com/nrn/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nrn3475.html

Apr 15, 2013 View post →
Yasser Ad-Dab'bagh ياسر الدباغ
@yasseraddabbagh.bsky.social · Bluesky

"Power failure: why small sample size undermines the reliability of neuroscience" http://fb.me/LnpuyLIr

Apr 11, 2013 View post →