June 26, 2025

#215 How 500,000+ People Are Hacking Stress, Focus, & Sleep Using EEG, Neurofeedback, HRV & More | Ariel Garten @ Muse

1 hour 7 minutes

How are 500,000 people using neurofeedback to hack their sleep, stress & focus without relying on stimulants or wearables?

Ariel Garten, neuroscientist & Muse co-founder, breaks down how EEG & FNIRS technology tracks brainwaves in real time to guide meditation, sharpen focus, & deepen sleep. This episode reveals how brain training stacks up against smart rings, & why heart rate variability, digital sleeping pills, & prefrontal cortex tuning matter more than ever.

Meet our guest

Ariel Garten is a neuroscientist & former psychotherapist who co-founded Muse, the brain-sensing EEG headband that’s helped over 500,000 users reduce stress, sleep better & improve meditation.

She’s passionate about making brain health accessible through innovative tech that empowers people to take control of their mental well-being. Ariel is also a sought-after speaker, known for bridging science, technology & human potential.

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Key takeaways

Learn how different brainwave types (delta, theta, alpha, beta, gamma) relate to your state of mind & focus

Prioritize quality sleep, sunlight, food & loving connections as non-negotiables for long-term brain health

Use clinical-grade EEG for real-time insight into brain activity as it’s more accurate than wrist or ring wearables

Speed up meditation progress with tech that provides real-time feedback on attention & focus

Train sleep quality with biofeedback tools like the digital sleeping pill that guide the brain into deeper sleep & track stages

Support relaxation & boost brainwave coherence for calm focus through heart rate variability & controlled breathing

Build cognitive flexibility through regular brain training & meditation to improve adaptability & focus recovery

Boost brain oxygenation, endurance & prefrontal cortex performance through physical exercise

Prioritize recovery especially sleep & relaxation, for brain growth & post-training performance

Stay flexible by adapting meditation, exercise & brain training schedules to life’s changing demands

Episode Highlights

5:30 How Muse Made Clinical-Grade Neurofeedback Accessible at Home

9:25 Use Cases for Neurofeedback & Brain Training

27:07 Connection Between HRV, Vagus Nerve, & Brainwave Activity

37:58 Designing a Minimalist Muse Protocol for Daily Use

1:02:26 Addressing Myths & Misconceptions in Cognitive Training

Links

Watch it on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Y1OuaYFXXdo

Full episode show notes: outliyr.com/215

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By Nick Urban | Longevity, Biohacking, & Performance

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