Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 13, 2026
10:31
Non-invasive Imaging and Analysis of Cerebral Ischemia in Living Rats Using Positron Emission Tomography with 18F-FDG
Published on: December 28, 2014
"Small group PETting:" Sample sizes in brain mapping research
1Brain Research Laboratory, Institute of Psychology, University of Vienna, Austria.
Human Brain Mapping
|April 22, 2010
Summary
Brain mapping research frequently uses extremely small sample sizes, with a median of just 8.5 subjects. This "small sample practice" poses significant risks, necessitating increased investment in data acquisition for more reliable findings.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Medical Imaging
- Brain Mapping Research
Background:
- Concerns exist regarding the small sample sizes prevalent in human brain mapping studies.
- The reliability and generalizability of findings from such studies are often questionable.
Purpose of the Study:
- To objectively assess the prevalence of small sample sizes in human brain mapping research.
- To highlight the potential dangers associated with underpowered studies in this field.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of sample sizes from 410 studies presented at the First International Conference on Functional Mapping of the Human Brain.
- Statistical examination of sample size distribution and comparison with the number of authors.
Main Results:
- A high percentage of studies utilized very small samples, with a median sample size of 8.5.
- In 30.3% of the studies, the number of authors was equal to or greater than the number of subjects.
Conclusions:
- The "small sample practice" is alarmingly common in brain mapping research.
- There is a critical need for increased investment in rigorous data acquisition to improve study power and validity.
