Sensor Signal Troubleshooting

Muse automatically tries to establish sensor signal as soon as you wear it and connect it by Bluetooth through the Muse app.

This article covers everything about troubleshooting sensor signal interruptions before or during your training and sleep sessions.

Getting Strong Sensor Signal
Sensor Signal Check Colour Map
Muse S Athena Sensor Troubleshooting
Muse S (Gen 2 and Gen 1) Sensor Troubleshooting
Muse 2 and Original Muse Sensor Troubleshooting
Sensor Wear and Tear

If you’re using an Original Muse 2014 headband, see our Muse 2014 Troubleshooting article for applicable sensor signal tips.

 

Getting Strong Sensor Signal

Start here to make sure you're following best practices so your sensor signal with Muse is strong for your whole session.
 

Before wearing Muse

• Make sure your Muse is fully charged. You can take a look at our Muse Battery Troubleshooting article for information on charging your headband.

• Use a damp cloth to apply water to your forehead and Muse sensors. A small amount of water can significantly improve the initial sensor signal.

• Avoid skin products or make-up while using Muse. They can form a barrier that interferes with the sensors.

• Muse S Athena. Ensure it's worn the right side up. The Muse logo should be facing down. The silver threaded electrodes should be touching the skin at the top and behind your ears, like eyeglasses.

• Muse S Athena: using a damp cloth or your fingers, apply a small amount of water to your forehead where the Pod will sit. This strengthens the central reference sensor signal to help the ear sensors.
   

While wearing Muse before your session

• Wear your Muse for 2 minutes before starting your session. The electrical resistance from your skin may need that time to settle.

• We recommend training with Muse while sitting still in a comfortable, upright position.

  • Muse 2 and the original Muse are designed to be used while sitting still in a comfortable, upright position.

  • Muse S models can be used while laying down.

• Keep your eyes closed and relaxed during your session.
   

After following the above steps, if you're still not getting good sensor quality, see the following Muse-specific troubleshooting steps.
 

Continue anyway (optional)

Muse checks for the sensor's signal quality at the start of every session, and you may see the option to continue to your session before all of the sensors have fully connected for maximum signal quality. We introduced this so that you can begin your session quickly!

We do recommend finishing the full sensor check so that Muse is leveraging the full suite of sensors. But even if you skip ahead, the rest of the sensors will automatically complete the check in the background.

One way to speed up the sensor detection overall is to wear your Muse and connect it by Bluetooth in the Muse app right away, then browse to your favorite session.

 

Sensor Signal Check Colour Map

You'll pass the sensor signal check before each Muse session. The sensor signal check maps to your Muse sensors with colour coded sections:

• Red, representing PPG (heart rate) and fNIRS* (blood oxygenation)

• Blue, representing fNIRS* (blood oxygenation)

• Green, representing EEG sensors.

*fNIRS sensors are only available in Muse S Athena, and are not used in sleep tracking.

 

Muse S Athena Sensor Troubleshooting

Step 1. Use a damp cloth or your fingers to apply water to your forehead and the Muse sensors.

• A small amount of water will significantly improve the initial brain signal detection by increasing the conductivity between your skin and the sensors. Then the natural moisture of your skin will help improve the conductivity for the EEG sensors to detect your brain's electrical activity.

• This may be required for each session, especially if you live in a dry or wintery environment, or tend to have dry skin.

💡Important: Why do the ear sensors not fill in completely, even though the forehead sensors appear green?

Muse connects in two stages. First, the forehead sensors must form strong electrical conductivity with your skin to detect brain signals. The ear sensor signal detection happens only once the central reference sensor signal is stable.

In dry conditions, the forehead sensors may appear green but still lack sufficient conductivity to fully complete Stage 1. When this happens, the ear sensors won’t fill in completely because Stage 2 has not yet begun. Lightly moisten your skin where the middle sensors sit on your forehead to improve conductivity, allowing the signal check process to complete successfully.
 

Step 2. Adjust the fit of your Muse S headband.

• Wait 15 seconds between adjustments to allow the sensor signal to settle and register.

• Use the adjuster strap on the back of your Muse S to tighten for a snug fit.

• Make sure the ear sensors fully touch the skin at the top and behind your ears, like eyeglasses.

  • This is key: remove as much loose hair as possible between the sensors and your skin, especially behind the ears.

• Lower the back of the headband and gently curve the ear sensors behind your ears for better skin contact.

• fNIRS: Raise the pod position on your forehead slightly. This may give the fNIRS sensors better detection of the brain's blood flow.

• fNIRS: Relax your forehead while using Athena. Scrunching your forehead will impede the fNIRS sensors.

• fNIRS: Avoid tilting your head forwards or backwards, or moving in general during your session. Movement causes changes in blood flow and can have a marked impact on the quality of your data. You'll naturally move a little, and it's okay to scratch an itch, but return to a comfortable neutral position as soon as you can.
   

Step 3. Sit in a relaxed position and allow your sensors 2-3 minutes to warm up (fNIRS) and settle (EEG).

• The fNIRS sensor illumination causes a brief period of signal noise that stabilizes after 2-3 minutes. For the best results, complete a 2 minute Visualize Your Brain Blood Flow session (found under Strength) before your regular Muse session. Then the fNIRS sensors will be at their peak readiness.

• The electrical resistance from your skin can take time to settle. As you sit still, your biosignals will calm and allow your brain signals to be more easily detected. At the same time your skins natural moisture will help improve the conductivity to the EEG sensors.
   

Additional notes:

• Blinking and physical movement causes signal noise that delay strong sensor signal detection. The best practice during the sensor signal check is to sit calmy with your eyes gently closed.

• During the sensor signal check, the red section represents the PPG/fNIRS sensors. Solid red means good signal.

• During sleep, Muse S Athena fNIRS sensors are not engaged.
  
   

Muse S (Gen 2 and Gen 1) Sensor Troubleshooting

Step 1: Make sure there’s no gap in your Muse S pod assembly

• (Recommended) To double-check your Muse S assembly and fit, see our Assembling and Fitting My Muse article.
   

Step 2. Use a damp cloth to apply water to the Muse forehead and ear sensors.

• A small amount of water will significantly improve the initial brain signal detection by increasing the conductivity between your skin and the sensors. Then the natural moisture of your skin will help improve the conductivity for the EEG sensors to detect your brain's electrical activity.
   

Step 3: Adjust the fit of your Muse S headband.

1. Wait 6 seconds between adjustments to allow the sensor signal to settle and register.

2. Use the adjuster strap on the back of your Muse S to tighten for a snug fit.

3. Make sure the ear sensors touch the tops of your ears, like eyeglasses. (Avoid bending the sensors around your ears.)

4. Make sure there's no hair between the sensors and your skin, especially behind the ears.
    

If you're still not able to get good sensor signal after following the above steps, reach out to Customer Care for additional support.

 

Muse 2 and Original Muse Sensor Troubleshooting

Step 1: Train while sitting still in a comfortable, upright position.

• The original Muse and Muse 2 are designed to be used while sitting still in a comfortable, upright position.

• They are much less likely to make contact with your skin while lying down.
   

Step 2. Use a damp cloth to apply water to the Muse forehead and ear sensors.

• A small amount of water will significantly improve the initial brain signal detection by increasing the conductivity between your skin and the sensors. Then the natural moisture of your skin will help improve the conductivity for the EEG sensors to detect your brain's electrical activity.
   

Step 3: Adjust the fit of your Muse 2 or Original Muse.

1. Wait 6 seconds between adjustments to allow the sensor signal to settle and register.

2. Tighten both ear pieces at the same time using both hands until snug.

3. Make sure the forehead sensors rest near the middle of your forehead.

4. Make sure the silicon ear sensors are resting on the skin of your ears (like eyeglasses).

5. Make sure there is no hair between the sensors and your skin.
    

For more information on fitting your Muse 2 or Original Muse, see our article on Assembling and Fitting My Muse.

If you're still not able to get good sensor signal after following the above steps, reach out to Customer Care for additional support.

 

Sensor Wear and Tear

Over time, your Muse may have some wear and tear with natural use. If you suspect wear and tear is causing sensor signal trouble, view our Diagnosing a Damaged Muse article.