Your brain is a muscle, and it’s poorly exercised. That’s the idea behind the Muse S Athena, a cognitive fitness device that launched Tuesday, designed to train your brain for better performance and focus.
The Muse S Athena tracks brain activity and oxygen levels during meditation exercises or training sessions for focus, endurance, and resilience, albeit for a hefty price of $475. It pairs with the Muse app, which includes cognitive exercises designed to promote focus, strength, and clarity. One new exercise allows players to control an owl’s flight with their mind and understand their own concentration patterns.
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I had the chance to demo the owl flight game for myself before the headband’s launch. The game was a timed flight, and I was equipped with a headband and headphones.
When the game started, the owl began to fly on its own. I was nearly convinced it was a scam. For a while, I just forced myself to stare at the owl as it flew through the digital sky. Several minutes passed, and the owl lost speed. As I tried with all my might to get it back into the air, it remained sedentary. The harder I forced myself to focus, the less the owl moved.
Shortly after, my session expired, and I was given a mental strength score of 81. The people at Muse explained that my 81 was actually an impressive score – even if it is a B-. The idea is that the more a person practices their focus over time, the stronger it will become.
According to the company’s press release, this headband can boost productivity in the workplace, accurately track sleep, and address age-related cognitive decline. On the subject of sleep, the press release says the Muse headband can track brain oxygenation and blood oxygen levels
Unfocused? This new fitness device aims to get your brain back into shape
