Progress: % Reward

Click on the B, G, and R buttons on the right to turn on graph lines for the percent of time you spend in the blue, green, and red zones. 

Time spent in each zone is not a measure of progress unless you never change your blue zone reward threshold. This will not make immediate sense to Muse users because they are accustomed to measuring progress by how often they are rewarded with birdies.  There is a big problem with using a reward rate as a measure of progress:

Neurofeedback clinicians have found that optimal learning happens when someone is rewarded about 70% of the time. If you aren’t getting birds about 70% of the time, your brain probably isn’t learning at the optimal rate.  

After you pick a new protocol, we calibrate that protocol for five minutes to create thresholds that target a reward rate based on your level of proficiency. 

  • Level 1 – 80% Reward – It is best to give beginners lots of positive reinforcement because mediation is so difficult at the beginning.
  • Level 2 – 70% Reward 
  • Level 3 – 60% Reward 
  • Level 4 – 50% Reward  – A 50% reward rate gives the most sensitive feedback, but it can be too frustrating until you have learned to let go of your attachment to rewards. 

It is a best practice in neurofeedback to adjust the reward threshold to optimize learning.

  • If the reinforcement rate is too low, the learner gets discouraged.
  • If the reinforcement rate is too high, the learner gets bored.

Just like a video game, setting your level of difficulty optimizes learning and your ability to get into a flow state. Please use the Reward Slider to find the Goldilocks point where it isn’t too hard or too easy.

The Muse software does not allow you to customize your reward threshold to optimize learning rate. 

You bought GoDeeper to get into deeper meditations faster, right? With GoDeeper you adjust your reward threshold to your optimal reward rate. The Goldilocks point is different for each person. Try to set the Reward Threshold Slider at whatever setting gives you the most pleasure. Pleasure is the key to an optimal learning rate. Try to keep your ego out of the Reward Threshold setting process.  Masochists, don’t be too hard on yourself!  Hedonists, don’t flood yourself with dopamine from too many rewards. 😊

Setting your reward threshold for your brain’s optimal reward rate does not affect your depth score. The GoDeeper depth score is the most reliable measure of mediation depth because it is based on research results on your chosen meditation method and adjusted to your level of proficiency 

Click on the BT (Blue Threshold) button to display a purple line that shows when you changed the blue threshold. You should expect more time in the blue zone, more reward and more points per minute when the Blue threshold goes up because that makes it easier to get into the Blue zone.

 Click on the buttons under the chart to: 

  • Change the time scale to Day, Week, or Month.

 Under the chart is a list of all your sessions where you can:

  • Click on the blue arrows on the right to see a Session Summary for that session.
  • Filter the sessions shown in the chart above.
  • Sort the session list by date.
Progress