Cognitive Sessions

Cognitive sessions are four short tests in the Muse app. Each test asks you to complete a quick task, then shows your results in a session report. Your results from all four tests also count toward your Brain Age reading.

Learn how to find the tests, what each one asks you to do, and how to read your results.

 

Starting a cognitive test
The four tests
Understanding your session results
Cognitive tests and Brain Age
Frequently Asked Questions

 

Starting a cognitive test

1. Open your Muse app and sign in to your Muse account.

2. Tap the Train tab.

3. Tap the Cognitive Tests tile in the Featured section.

4. Put on your Muse headband and make sure it's connected. You wear your headband during the tests.

5. Tap a test. Each test opens on a screen with a short instruction.

6. Tap Begin to start the test, or Start Tutorial to try a few practice rounds first.

Practice rounds are labelled "Practice, not scored", so they don't affect your results. To leave practice early, tap Skip Tutorial.

The Cognitive Tests screen shows a check mark beside each test you've completed and your progress across all four (for example, "2/4"). Tap Pin to add the program to your Today screen. For more on pinning, see Using the Today Screen.

To see how each result is calculated, tap the information icon at the top right of a test's start screen.

 

The four tests

Each test has a test name and a game name. You'll see both in the app.

Processing Speed (Think Fast)

"Match each symbol to its number as fast as you can."

A key at the top of the screen pairs nine symbols with the numbers 1 to 9. One symbol appears at a time, and you tap its number on the keypad. The test runs for 90 seconds.

• Score: the number of correct matches in 90 seconds. Each correct match adds 1 point.

• Speed (s): your average response time per match, in seconds. Lower is faster.

• Accuracy (%): the share of your matches that were correct.

• Attempts: the total number of matches you answered, correct or incorrect.

Spatial Memory (Remember Where)

"Watch a pattern light up, then tap through it in reverse."

Squares light up one at a time. You tap them back in reverse order. Each correct round adds one square to the next sequence. The test ends after three mistakes, counted across the whole test.

• Score: the longest sequence you correctly repeat in reverse, divided by your speed.

• Longest Sequence: how far you progress through increasingly long sequences.

• Speed (s): your average time between taps, in seconds. Lower is faster.

Impulse Control (Hold Back)

"Tap on 'Tap!' and hold back on 'Don't Tap!'"

One signal appears at a time: a green "Tap!" or a red "Don't tap!". You tap on "Tap!" and hold back on "Don't tap!". The test runs in levels of 20 trials.

• Score: the number of levels you complete, divided by your average response speed on correct "Tap" trials.

• Passing a level: hold back on every "Don't Tap" trial and tap correctly on at least 90% of "Tap" trials.

• Your results also show Level, Speed and Accuracy.

Selective Attention (Focus In)

"Tap the side that the middle arrow points to."

A row of five arrows appears. You tap the side of the screen that the middle arrow points to and ignore the arrows around it. The test runs in levels of 20 trials that get faster.

• Score: the level you reach, divided by your average response time. Progressing further and responding faster gives a higher score.

• Speed (s): your average reaction time to the arrows, in seconds. Lower is faster.

• Accuracy (%): the percentage of correct responses from all scored trials.

• Level: how far you progress as the test gets faster. Each level has 20 trials, and you need at least 70% correct to move to the next level.

• Interference (s): how much slower you respond when the surrounding arrows point the other way.

Understanding your session results

After each test, your session report shows your score, a results summary for that test, and how your score compares with other Muse users.

How you compare

The comparison bar shows how your score for that session and your high score compare with all users who completed the same test. "Top 34%" means you scored higher than 66% of those users. Lower numbers are better.

More metrics

Tap + show more metrics to see your brainwave power bands, stillness, heart rate and brain oxygenation, plus any journal entries.

• The Original Muse headband doesn't show stillness or heart rate.

• Brain oxygenation shows on Muse S Athena only.

• The brainwave power band graphs are unfiltered, so they pick up signal from open eyes and movement. This is expected during the tests. For more information, see our Brainwave Powerbands article.

 

Why your results change

• Scores often rise as a test becomes familiar. Your first attempt is partly learning how the test works.

• Sleep, caffeine, stress and time of day can all affect your results.

• For the most consistent results, take the tests when you're rested, without interruptions, and at a similar time of day.

 

Cognitive tests and Brain Age

Your cognitive test results are one of the two parts of your Brain Age reading, shown on your Brain Age results as "Cognitive Performance". The other part is your Daytime EEG.

• To get your first Brain Age reading, complete all four tests along with seven qualifying session days.

• For new weekly readings, we recommend retaking the tests each week. If you skip a test, your most recent result is used.

• If you take a test more than once in a week, the average of those scores is used.

Brain Age is not a diagnostic test and does not detect, predict or rule out any medical condition, including cognitive decline or dementia.

For more on how Brain Age works, see Understanding Brain Age.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a premium subscription for cognitive tests?

No. The cognitive tests are free for everyone with the Muse app.
 

Which Muse headbands support cognitive tests?

All Muse headbands support cognitive tests: Muse, Muse 2, Muse S and Muse S Athena.

Do I need to wear my Muse headband for cognitive tests?

Yes. Wear your Muse headband during the tests. Your session report includes data from your headband, such as brainwave power bands and heart rate.

Do practice rounds count toward my results?

No. Tutorial rounds are labelled "Practice, not scored" and aren't included in your results.

Why is a lower Speed number better?

Speed is the time you took to respond, in seconds. A lower number means you responded faster.

Do cognitive tests count as qualifying sessions for Brain Age?

No. Cognitive tests are a separate requirement. Your qualifying session days come from eyes-closed Mind, Heart, Body, Breath, guided and External Audio sessions. See Understanding Brain Age for details.

Do cognitive tests count toward my streaks and goals?

Yes. Cognitive test sessions count toward your minutes, points, streaks, goals, levels and milestones. They don't count toward birds or recoveries, and they don't appear on your activity chart.

Who am I compared with in "How you compare"?

You're compared with all Muse users who completed the same test, not with people of your age.

Why did my score go down?

Scores can vary from one session to the next. Sleep, caffeine, stress and time of day can all affect your results. Try taking the tests when you're rested, without interruptions, and at a similar time of day.

Where are my Brain Age readings?

Brain Age readings appear on the Health tab. See Understanding Brain Age for how readings are calculated and released.