Understanding My Cognitive Performance Score

By tracking your cognitive performance, you can gain insights into factors that may be affecting your mental sharpness, such as stress or fatigue, and be empowered to make lifestyle choices to improve or maintain it. 

Read on to learn about how to understand your cognitive performance score.
 

What can impact my cognitive performance?
How can I track my cognitive performance?
How often should I be tracking my cognitive performance?
Why does my APF vary so little?
Why does my APF vary so much?
How can I increase my score?
What happens if my score suddenly changes?
How do I compare my data over time?
Is there a relation between my cognitive performance score and calm score?
Should I consult a professional for further information?

 

What can impact my cognitive performance?

Since Alpha Peak Frequency is a measure of how your brain is performing, there are a number of biological and environmental factors that can impact your score, including:

• Poor sleep quality

• Stress and anxiety

• Poor diet

• Sedentary lifestyles

• Alcohol and substance use

• Noise and distractions

• Mental fatigue

• Neurological conditions
   

On the other hand, good sleep, healthy diets, managed stress, and meditation can all help boost your APF scores. Think about it this way: is your brain at its best when it’s stressed, tired, and hungry for nutrients, or when it’s relaxed, energized, and ready to go?

 

How can I track my cognitive performance?

In the Muse app, click the Health tab to track your breath health metrics, including your Cognitive Performance bar for your Alpha Peak Frequency (APF). Tapping the bar allows you to access trends and your performance history, providing better visibility into how your APF changes over time.

The overall APF average is calculated based on the data points visible on your graph. When you scroll from left to right on the graph, you'll see your overall APF average change in real time.

It’s important to note that each daily data point shown is the average of all the biofeedback sessions completed that day.

 

How often should I be tracking my performance?

Track your Cognitive Performance at least once a week to see your progress. Think of it as a fitness tracker for your mind.

Like any fitness practice, having a regular routine makes a big difference in your progress. Some people prefer their fitness routine in the morning, while others prefer the night. 

Consider lifestyle elements such as your sleep patterns, nutritional intake, physical exercise, and stress levels. Understanding how these factors may impact your cognitive health can guide you in making beneficial adjustments.

 

Why does my APF vary so little?

Some people show low variability in their Alpha Peak Frequency, which stays at a similar value over months or years. This isn’t a bad thing: Research using Muse has shown that reduced day-to-day variance in APF is associated with reduced anxiety. Other research also shows that while APF typically declines with age, you can make lifestyle changes and incorporate wellness routines to maintain your cognitive performance.

 

Why does my APF vary so much?

If your alpha peak frequency values are jumping between two vastly different values (e.g., one around 8 Hz and another around 11 Hz), you could have what is referred to as a "split alpha peak". 

This is a normal variation in alpha waves and denotes one relatively slower frequency (around 8 Hz) associated with frontal executive function and another relatively faster (11 Hz) frequency associated with visual cognition.

Our algorithm is being developed to address this kind of variation better.

 

How can I increase my score?

Because Alpha Peak values change with age, tracking and training it empowers you to get ahead of the curve. While you can’t undo the effects of aging, you can mitigate them through meditation, brain-training activities, and mindfulness exercises.

Along with healthy lifestyle choices like getting better sleep, exercising, and eating properly, concerted brain training with research-backed exercises and devices like Muse can influence your alpha wave production and increase your Alpha Peak.

 

What happens if my score suddenly changes?

Remember that, like physical fitness, everyone has both exceptional and off days. 

Your session’s score is compared with your baseline of the last 10 sessions. When you receive an APF that results in an optimal score (a peak performance), that’s in comparison with the baseline of the last 10 sessions. If you receive the same APF for the next 10 sessions, optimal may trend towards a good score (a solid performance).

See our Cognitive Performance and Alpha Peak article for a refresher on what the different scores mean.

Whenever you receive scores, it's most beneficial to reflect on potential factors influencing these results. Consider your sleep patterns, nutritional intake, physical exercise, and stress levels. Understanding how these factors may impact your cognitive health can guide you in making beneficial adjustments.

 

How do I compare my data over time?

Comparing your data can help you understand how your lifestyle choices and habits are impacting your cognitive health.

Note that you must first complete 10 biofeedback sessions to establish your baseline Alpha Peak Frequency (APF) before you'll see your cognitive performance score.

To view your cognitive performance trends:

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

2. Tap the Health tab.

3. Tap Cognitive Performance.
    

Your average APF is calculated based on the visible data points visible on your trend graph. Swipe left and right to see the average change overtime. Your all time average APF is shown below the trend graph.

To view your Cognitive Performance score, along with the other results from an individual session:

1. Tap the Me tab, then scroll down and tap Session History.

2. Tap any biofeedback session to view your cognitive performance score for the session.
    

💡Add a journal entry when you complete a biofeedback session with Muse to capture the context of the session. Viewing the data is one thing, but understanding the context of when the data was determined is key.

• Were you lacking sleep?

• Was the day particularly stressful?

• Have you made recent lifestyle changes?
   

By making small, positive changes, you can work towards optimizing your cognitive performance and overall well-being.

 

Is there a relation between my cognitive performance score and calm score?

While both the cognitive performance and calm scores use EEG data, they are separately calculated and measure EEG differently using different algorithms.

The Alpha Peak Frequency (APF) algorithm identifies the frequency within the alpha band that generates the strongest activity in each EEG recording and compares it to your baseline APF over the last 10 sessions to determine your cognitive performance score.

The calm score algorithm has been developed over many years of intensive research on higher-order combinations of primary, secondary, and tertiary characteristics of raw EEG data and how they interact with focused attention meditation. 

Cognitive performance reflects the speed, accuracy, and efficiency, with which your brain performs tasks that involve thinking, learning, memory, and problem-solving, measured by APF, while the calm score reflects your ability to stay in a focused-attention state.

 

Should I consult a professional for further information?

Muse is not a medical device and should not be used to diagnose, treat, or cure any medical conditions. Our products and services are intended to provide information that can help you manage and support your well-being through biofeedback and sleep data.

Please speak with a healthcare provider if you have any concerns about your health and/or are thinking of making changes to prescription medications or lifestyle modifications.


For more info on how to create a routine for cognitive performance, see our article on Improving Your Muse Meditation Scores.