MUSE is a headset that provides real time feedback on what is happening within your brain. This tool uses audio feedback to train the brain to a more mindful and relaxed state.
Our awareness of the benefits of meditation and mindfulness continue to grow based on current research. Meditation and mindfulness changes the parts of the brain most impacted by trauma.
In the short-term, meditation has been shown to trigger the natural relaxation response – a state of deep rest that changes the physiological and emotional responses to stress. Your metabolism decreases and your heartbeat slows. The muscles relax, breathing becomes slower, and your blood pressure decreases.
Meditation has been scientifically shown to reduce symptoms associated with stress, depression and anxiety. Research has documented other benefits, like increased grey matter density, reduced thinning of the prefrontal cortex, decreasing amygdala activity (associated with stress response), and increased resilience – basically, an overall beneficial change of the brain’s structure and function.
The MUSE provides a titrated introduction to meditation with wonderful prompts and positive reinforcement to train your brain to a state of calm. It measures activity in the brain and provides feedback to help you know how much time during the meditation was spent in active, neutral, or calm brain states. It also provides cues during the meditation to allow your brain to recover from wandering attention and redirect your focus. For example, my favorite landscape is the water, as you're breathing and focused on your breath and your brain is settling the water is calm. As your brain becomes more active the weather becomes more stormy. When you calm your breath and your mind you quiet the weather. If you remain in a calm state you are reinforced with the chirping of birds. You can learn more or purchase via the link below. There are some great videos that demonstrate how it works and provide further insight into the brain science.