Item Package Dimensions L x W x H | 7.7 x 6.4 x 3 inches |
---|---|
Package Weight | 0.45 Kilograms |
Item Dimensions LxWxH | 2.99 x 6.34 x 7.68 inches |
Item Weight | 0.8 Pounds |
Brand Name | MUSE |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Warranty Description | B00LOQR37C |
Model Name | Muse MU-02-BK-EN: The Brain Sensing Headband, Black |
Color | Black Headband ONLY (No Case) |
Material | Elasticized-Fabric |
Number of Items | 1 |
Manufacturer | Gaiam |
Part Number | 05-61561 |
Model Year | 1 |
Style | Headband ONLY (No Case) |
Included Components | Muse MU-02-BK-EN: The Brain Sensing Headband, Black |
Size | 0.1 |
- 3 VIDEOS
Image Unavailable
Color:
-
-
-
- To view this video download Flash Player
The Brain Sensing Headband,
Color | Black Headband ONLY (No Case) |
Age Range (Description) | Adult |
Material | Elasticized-Fabric |
Number of Items | 1 |
Item Weight | 0.8 Pounds |
About this item
- MEDITATION MADE EASY: Muse is your personal meditation assistant by providing EEG based real-time neurofeedback, allowing you to take the guesswork out of your meditation practice
- MUSE WILL GUIDE YOU TO A CALM MIND: Sometimes your mind is calm and sometimes it's active - Muse will teach you to recognize a calm mind and help you get there
- IMMERSE YOURSELF: Put on the Muse headband, plug in your earbuds or headphones, start the app, and close your eyes. Immerse yourself within the sounds of a beach or rainforest via the Muse App on iOS or Android
- REAL-TIME TRACKING & FEEDBACK: While you meditate, Muse measures whether your mind is calm or active, and translates that data into weathers sounds
- REVIEW DATA AFTER EACH SESSION: After each session, review your data, set goals, and build a deeply rewarding meditation practice that gets better every time
Customers who viewed this item also viewed
- Loftus International Fart Extinguisher Novelty ItemFREE Shipping on orders over $35 shipped by AmazonGet it as soon as Tuesday, Mar 19
- Mind Alive Inc. David Delight Pro with a Multi-Color Eyeset | Best Device for Brain Training, Meditation, Relaxation, Sleep, Mood, Mental Clarity. Increased Academic and Sports PerformanceFREE ShippingOnly 17 left in stock - order soon.
- SHASHIBO Shape Shifting Box - Award-Winning, Patented Fidget Cube w/ 36 Rare Earth Magnets - Transforms Into Over 70 Shapes, Download Fun in Motion Toys Mobile App (Earth - Explorer Series)FREE Shipping on orders over $35 shipped by AmazonGet it as soon as Tuesday, Mar 19
- Finer Form Multi-Functional Gym Bench for Full All-in-One Body Workout – Versatile Fitness Equipment for Hyper Back Extension, Roman Chair, Adjustable Situp, Decline, Flat BenchFREE Shipping by AmazonGet it as soon as Tuesday, Mar 19
From the manufacturer
Why meditate with Muse?
Muse is the first tool in the world that gives you accurate, real-time feedback on what’s happening in your brain when you meditate. Improve your meditation practice in as little as 3 minutes a day – any time, anywhere.
Personalized tracking, motivational challenges and rewards encourage you to build a more regular and effective practice.
Experience all the benefits of meditation – such as relaxation, improved mood and reduced stress – with none of the uncertainty.
The science behind Muse
Your brain is constantly generating electrical signals when you’re thinking, sleeping or even relaxing. These signals can be detected from outside your head, via sensors.
Muse uses the same brain sensing technology that doctors and scientists have employed for more than a century to detect your brain signals, similar to how a heart monitor measures your pulse.
Muse has 7 finely calibrated sensors – 2 on the forehead, 2 behind the ears plus 3 reference sensors – which detect and measure the activity of your brain.
Product Description
Muse is your personal meditation assistant. While you meditate, Muse measures whether your mind is calm or active, and translates that data into weather sounds. When you’re calm, you’ll hear peaceful weather sounds. When your mind wanders, the weather will intensify, guiding you back to a calm state. After each session, review your data, set goals, and build a deeply rewarding meditation practice that gets better every time.
Muse is compatible with a wide range of Apple and Android devices. Muse requires Bluetooth LE 4.0 or higher.
Apple - Muse works best with Apple devices using iOS 10 and above.
Android - Muse works best with Android devices which use Android operating system 5.0 or higher.
Product information
Technical Details
Additional Information
ASIN | B00LOQR37C |
---|---|
Customer Reviews |
4.0 out of 5 stars |
Date First Available | July 28, 2014 |
Feedback
Videos
Videos for this product
0:31
Click to play video
Muse: The Brain Sensing Headband, Black
Merchant Video
Important information
Legal Disclaimer
All sales are final
To report an issue with this product or seller, click here.
Looking for specific info?
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers like the performance, quality and ease of use of the headband. They mention that it works very well, is effective for relaxation and concentration training and that the gentle feedback during the meditation are very helpful. They also like the comfort, and feedback. However, some customers have issues with connectivity and differ on value.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers like the performance of the meditation app. For example, they say it works well, the day counter and progress tracking are very useful, and the app works without any problems. Customers also appreciate the variety of background and feedback choices, and how the device works to read EEG. They say it's a futuristic device that works best with maintained one-pointed focus, or meditating on emptiness. They find that multiple three-minute sessions are very helpful, and that the nearly instantaneous feedback on the quality of their meditation is something.
"......" Read more
"...The app just has one activity—simple calming meditation—but it's very effective and helpful at that...." Read more
"...the app is simple and well-designed, and I have found it to be a really enjoyable and effective tool for relaxation and concentration training...." Read more
"...It does not work as advertised and even if it were capable of doing what is says, it goes against the very concept of meditation by contradicting..." Read more
Customers like the meditation of the product. They say it's an effective tool for relaxation and concentration training, and the feedback you receive during the meditation is very helpful. The device makes it much more easy to meditate regularly and more than once a day, and with the free Calm app, it helps handhold you through meditation. Customers also say that it helps to develop meditation goals, and that it can help you achieve a relaxed, meditative state much quicker.
"...Finally, I also feel that using this device makes it much more easy to meditate regularly and more than once a day...." Read more
"...read brainwaves, converts them to the sound of weather, and helps you meditate. I bought it and began using it...." Read more
"...Muse is a simple, elegant tool for neurofeedback. The headband just reads data and transmits it to an app that runs on your phone or tablet...." Read more
"...I have found it to be a really enjoyable and effective tool for relaxation and concentration training. My only minor suggestions are:*..." Read more
Customers like the ease of use of the meditation app. They say that it is simple and elegant, and it's easy to connect the headband. Customers also appreciate that the app is great for getting started and provides feedback that a teacher can't.
"...follow, my experience in the actual meditation is that it is very clear and obvious, not least because the device helps to you be more detached from..." Read more
"...Muse is a simple, elegant tool for neurofeedback. The headband just reads data and transmits it to an app that runs on your phone or tablet...." Read more
"...Set up went flawlessly (I'm running it on an iPhone 6) and I settled in for my first session...." Read more
"...5. It's very simple and easy to use, basically if you don't want to get deep into neurofeedback but you're still curious, this is good...." Read more
Customers like the quality of the sporting good. They say the app is very well thought out, reliable, and easy to use. Some customers also say that the app gives them real-time feedback of when their mind wanders and can be training wheels.
"...purchase: if you want a well designed piece of hardware with a solid companion app to help you train your concentration, then I really feel that..." Read more
"...4. There are other apps for the device that are fun, I've experimented with a few other uses for the device through apps besides meditation..." Read more
"...But the software is getting harder to use, and is very disruptive of serious meditation; it's great for getting started, but leaves advanced users,..." Read more
"...The app is very well thought out. I particularly liked that it "unlocked" new features after you accumulated a certain amount of success...." Read more
Customers like the comfort of the headset. They say that the body sensations register as calm, and the headset helps them relax. They also mention that regular meditation has helped them reduce stress and lower their blood pressure. Some customers also say that it has helped with a nervous stomach.
"...Studies point to many benefits from regular meditation including reduced stress, lowered blood pressure, increased focus and energy and improved..." Read more
"...choose a male or female voice for the instructions; they're both nice, calm, reassuring voices...." Read more
"...So, as a standalone product the headband is comfortable, the app is simple and well-designed, and I have found it to be a really enjoyable and..." Read more
"...It only had 1 sensor too. The MUSE is totally comfortable, no wires (BT) and strap adjustable...." Read more
Customers are satisfied with the feedback provided by the headband. They mention that it provides instant feedback for when their mind was at rest or when they are meditating. They find the real-time feedback incredibly helpful and like having the data so they can improve their performance in certain areas. They also mention that the feedback shows mental activity and agitation and is easy to change.
"...The combination of the immediate feedback, the reward system, and the documented brainwave output makes it rather attractive to use the device -- yes..." Read more
"...program I was able to improve my sleep and raise my performance in certain areas such as the speed of processing information, memory and verbal..." Read more
"...What I find most valuable is the constant feedback -- when meditating traditionally it is easy to drift for a few moments before realizing it is..." Read more
"...I just absolutely loved it because it gives instant feedback. You know how quickly your mind starts to wander...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the value of the headband. Some mention it's well worth the cost, while others say that it' s not worth the $200+ bucks for its intended application. The initial investment can be steep, but the feedback from your sessions is imperical. That said, some say it' is a complete waste of time and money, and that it has a very basic ergonomic design.
"...2. The concept of the device is actually flawed: I discussed this device with my meditation master...." Read more
"...This was amazing to me. A truly portable and somewhat affordable EEG.The app that comes with it is great too...." Read more
"...2. The headband itself is terrible. I would love to use it for a long time but after about 20 minutes it's too uncomfortable to wear!..." Read more
"...will follow but the serenity I’ve found so far makes it well worth the price for what it can actually help me accomplish now...." Read more
Customers have connectivity issues with the headband. They mention that the Bluetooth doesn't pair automatically, making it difficult to connect with the app. Some customers also note that the app cannot be connected with the server.
"...Cons:1. The Bluetooth doesn't pair automatically each time you have to go to the app and do it each time, luckily it's not that hard.2...." Read more
"...I've noticed it sometimes just don't connect, until I have started my 'Muse Headband' app...." Read more
"...Had initially two times problem with the Bluetooth connection...." Read more
"...I also want to add that I have absolutely no connection problems or pairing issues. For me, the device has been working just wonderfully...." Read more
Reviews with images
-
Top reviews
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
The longer I am using it, the more I like it. I have now done over 100 sessions with it. One effect it had on me is that I am now mediating twice a day with it, while I used to only mediate once a day before. I sit now early in the morning around 8:00 for 15 or 20 minutes, and then around 9:30 in the evening. I sometimes also meditate without it during the day at work, but these two meditations in the morning and the evening have become a well-loved fixture in my life. And because it really helps you to get these Alpha waves going for extended periods, you will actually start craving meditation. I am very grateful to the folks at Muse!
Update on Sep. 2, 2018:
Have been using it for more than two weeks now. In addition to what said below, I want to reiterate what others have remarked on the calibration: If you are really relaxed during calibration, it might be overly sensitive and pick up on every little distraction. If you're fidgety and nervous or just think a lot during calibration, it might end up too generous and not pick up on the smaller distractions. So, it is definitely worth paying attention to the calibration and your respective status, otherwise you may end up with an inadequate calibration.
I have been using the Muse Headband for a bit more than a week now and I am mostly rather enthusiastic about it. There are some issues with it, too, which I will discuss later, as they are actually a blessing in disguise. So, first the unproblematic positives:
First of all, I am highly impressed with the bio-feedback qualities of this device. Using it for meditation is like doing meditation under a magnifying glass: You understand much more precisely when you're in a truly quiet state and when you're getting distracted. It also helps you (due to the feedback) to get very quickly into a quiet state, something I earlier only experienced during silent retreats.
Second, you learn much more precisely to react to distractions. I have had times in meditation where I got distracted and stayed in that distracted state fairly long, as I was missing a "warning system" that would pull me out. With the Muse Headband, you get a pretty quick response to your distraction and after a bit of adjustment, you can actually react immediately, so that you're not even getting into a state of major distraction.
Third, it allows you to distinguish much better between the meditating/observing mind and the thoughts that come up. It really helps you to stay neutral and non-judgemental towards these thoughts and just let them come and go. I have been doing regular (usually daily) meditation for the past 3 years, and did it less regularly before that, so I am fairly experienced. However, while I never had much of a problem getting into a relaxed, calm stat of mind, I often had trouble to remain aware and to distinguish my awareness from the observed thoughts without getting involved in these thoughts and thus getting distracted. The Muse Headband helps in creating awareness of and distance to potentially distracting thoughts, thus effectively preventing you from getting distracted by them.
Finally, I also feel that using this device makes it much more easy to meditate regularly and more than once a day. The combination of the immediate feedback, the reward system, and the documented brainwave output makes it rather attractive to use the device -- yes, we're easy to please creatures :-). In any case, it has (so far) helped me to increase my meditation frequency and duration.
For these three points alone, I feel like my meditation practice has been advanced tremendously in a very short amount of time.
Now for the issues that complicate things:
One issue that other reviewers have brought up, too, is that the device does not always catch distracted thinking. In fact, if you think very concrete, individual thoughts in an otherwise calm state of mind, it will likely interpret these thoughts as concentration, not as distraction, even though these thoughts can be fairly distracting. For instance, if you think "it is going to be interesting how this looks like on the brainwave diagram" during a calm state, it will not react to it. And you can draw out such concrete thoughts without the Muse Headband identifying them as distraction, as long as you stay focused on them and keep your calm state. I guess this has to do with the fact that such thoughts are very specific and concentrated. Some reviewer mentioned that doing puzzles can have this result, too, which is unsurprising because you're concentrating a lot when you're doing a puzzle.
On the other hand, the system is extremely sensitive towards cognitive "background noise," i.e. unfocused daydreaming and drifting of thoughts, as well as emotional reactions or visual imagery (as long as they are not focused, of course). This sensitivity has actually been very valuable for me, because I was not too aware of how much cognitive "background noise" I am producing and how deeply this can interfere with a calm state of mind. I always focused much more on the individual, focused thoughts, which are much easier to identify. So, while the device is not much of a help in catching these individual, focused thoughts, it reliably catches the background noise, which is ultimately much more disruptive, provided you're sufficiently aware of your concrete thoughts.
This means: If you want a device that helps you directly to become aware of your concrete, focused thoughts during meditation, then the Muse Headband is not much of a help, as it won't react to them, unless they are accompanied by less focused background noise (which, by the way, happens usually relatively quickly when you follow those thoughts, as you'll start daydreaming about them!). However, the system is extremely helpful in creating awareness of your background noise and imagery, which often go undetected in "unsupported" meditation sessions.
Moreover, one indirect effect this has is that it not only raises your awareness of cognitive background noise, it also helps in isolating the concrete, focused thoughts from the background noise, so that you will be much more aware of those focused thoughts as distractions. This is, then, how the device can help you indirectly to also control the focused thoughts.
While this may seem a bit complicated and hard to follow, my experience in the actual meditation is that it is very clear and obvious, not least because the device helps to you be more detached from your own thinking that you normally are. Maybe that's not a problem other meditators have and it is only my individual issue. But for me, the Muse Headband has been a real eye-opener and an incredibly helpful device, as it has put my mind under the microscope.
I also want to add that I have absolutely no connection problems or pairing issues. For me, the device has been working just wonderfully.
I do share the concerns of other reviewers that it is not clear from the output you get on the app what type of brainwaves are being recorded, and how the system interprets them. At some point, I might look more deeply into that (and, as others have mentioned, there are apps that help you to get the raw data instead of the interpreted ones). For now, however, I am simply very happy to have a device that supports and improves my meditation practice dramatically. Obviously I will need to see how it plays out in the long run. I will add updates to this review at a later point.
Many people incorrectly perceive it as a form of prayer and treat it as a religious practice.
Its effects, while ultimately powerful, are subtle.
Meditation requires discipline, patience and constancy.
This is why I bought and recommend the Muse. But before you take my word for it, here's a brief summary of my history with meditation.
I have been meditating off and on since I first read several books on the subject while in my 30s. For one six month period, I would meditate 20 minutes every night, sitting on a cushion in the attic of our house. I once had a significant spiritual experience while meditating which I’ll describe later.
Since then, I’ve meditated sporadically using different techniques and devices. I’ve used smartphone apps and recorded guided meditations. For some time I used a Stress Eraser which measured my heartbeat and coordinated my breathing with my heartrate -- a form of meditation bordering on biofeedback. It was very effective for calming me and I noticed it really helped my golf game.
Since last March I’ve been using the Muse Meditation headband which I’ll describe in more detail later.
What are the benefits of meditation?
Studies point to many benefits from regular meditation including reduced stress, lowered blood pressure, increased focus and energy and improved performance in many areas. For me, one benefit arises above all else.
Throughout my life I’ve had a tendency to react quickly and emotionally to things people say. In some cases, a slight or accusation can tip my mood toward negativity for hours or even a day. While in this state I know I need to forgive and move on, but emotionally I’m incapable of doing so.
However, if I’ve meditated, my reactivity is dampened and I’m able to let these comments roll off. I first noticed this about 10 years ago when I was managing a difficult woman who worked in my department. She phrased even little remarks in a way that constantly put people on the defensive. The temptation was just to snap back, confront her, or begin an exchange which felt satisfying in the short run but would be counter-productive.
At that time I used to go into the men’s room, sit in a stall and use a device no longer sold called the Stress Eraser for about 10 minutes. The little device, which took my pulse from my index finger, would give me points for good breaths to sync my breathing with my heart rate until it produced a measurable neurological change.
If I used the stresseraser, and this woman made one of her little remarks, I could feel the irritation rising, but it was at a distance. Her remarks became almost amusing as if I could notice them but was insulated from being drawn into the emotional quicksand.
How I found the Muse headband
Last summer I had a brain scan taken by wearing a helmet with electric sensors. The result was a map of my brain showing what areas were generating higher or lower signals than a database of 5,000 “normal” people. This was physical evidence of the way my brain was dealing with everyday life. It was a bit like seeing the change as I used the stresseraser. During my neurofeedback program I was able to improve my sleep and raise my performance in certain areas such as the speed of processing information, memory and verbal fluency. My golf and tennis games improved.
I became interested in seeing what my brain was actually doing based on science rather than just asking myself what my current mood was. I wondered if I could find a brain sensor I could use myself.
How the Muse system works
On the internet I found the Muse headband which read brainwaves, converts them to the sound of weather, and helps you meditate. I bought it and began using it.
The headband fits across the front of your forehead and wraps around your ears. A metal strip is able to detect electrical brainwaves. When certain brainwaves are very active the weather noise increases. As you calm your mind, the weather noise grows fainter and -- here is the genius of the device -- if you are very calm for several seconds, you can hear birds chirping. At the end you get a graph of your performance and a score.
Many people would react by saying, “Why do you need to turn meditation into a video game?” Here are several ways the Muse helps me:
Quantification builds belief. If I finish a session and have a good score, it reinforces the benefits of the session. Yes, there could be a placebo effect but if it helps, I’ll take it.
The headband keeps me still. When I’m wearing the headband I know it’s a meditation session. When I take if off, I’m done. The headband formalizes and ritualizes meditation.
Teaches you to identify a calm mind. Finally, and maybe more importantly, the weather sounds let you identify a calm mind.
How I use Muse
If I sit down and set a meditation timer for 20 minutes, it feels like I’m facing an eternity. Instead, I use Muse for two 7-minute sessions first thing in the morning. This allows the device to re-calibrate to my state of mind. I meditate for 7 minutes then start another 7 minute session. In some cases, I do a third session.
My spiritual experience
Once, while meditating, I had the feeling there was another person or entity in the room with me. I continued meditating, hoping to learn who this was. Finally, I realized the entity was actually me -- as if I had split in two -- but this other me was wise and calm. I continued meditating, wondering what this other me had come to say. After some time, I came to know this answer. This other self wanted me to know one thing: “Everything is going to be all right.”
Final thoughts
I hope my experiences will provide some guidance for anyone looking for a way to get more out of life. I also want to encourage people to find their own method of getting to the calm inner source of intelligence within themselves. As someone once said, our mind is like a lake. On the surface, from day to day, there is turbulence. But below the water is deep and still. This is where we can find insight into our true selves.
Top reviews from other countries
I love it.
I was taught Transcendental Meditation many years ago to learn how to relax so am familiar with how to meditate.
The feedback provided by the Muse headband app makes it SO EASY to meditate and you have feedback that you are doing it correctly.
This would be invaluable to someone who wants to learn how to meditate and an important tool to someone who already knows how and wants to enhance their expierence.
I would give it a 12 out of 10.
L'application est en français aujourd'hui.
L'appareil est très précis, le moindre clignement d’œil est notifié sur le tracé de l'EEG. Ajouté à cela que d'autres applications ont été développés par des tiers pour exploiter l'appareil.
Je pense à EEG101 (gratuit et seulement sur Android à ma connaissance) qui permet de s'initier ce qu'est un EEG et comment cela fonctionne. Puis une application 'Moniteur pour Muse' (sur Android et IOS) qui permet d'afficher le relevés des ondes cérébrales et les activités électriques du cerveau sur l'écran en temps réel et notamment d'en faire la sauvegarde (sur Excel notamment). Un très bon complément à l'application de Muse mais seul bémol c'est payant aux alentours de 15€ si je me rappelle bien. Des critiques que j'ai pu lire sur cette application c'est qu'elle n'est pas valable pour Muse 2.