Yes. Muse provides high-quality raw EEG data at 256Hz through dedicated research software tools available on both desktop and mobile. The data is unprocessed and suitable for academic research. If you are using the Athena device you also get raw optical data for FNIRS analysis. For data privacy and security, you cannot get raw data directly from the consumer version of the Muse app, you need a license to use our HIPPA compliant, IRB approved secure research tools.

To get high quality raw EEG from Muse please contact us to discuss our research tools.

Yes, event markers can be placed during recording. Muse Desktop tools include a manual markers function for button-press-triggered marking during a session.

For programmatic or stimulus-synchronized marking, it is theoretically possible to inject markers using OSC or LSL (Lab Streaming Layer) protocol via Muse Direct, which can stream raw sensor signals over LSL. A secondary software or script would be needed to combine the EEG and marker streams. Note that this workflow has not been formally tested by the Muse team — researchers implementing it should validate the setup for their specific use case.

For implementation questions, the Muse Reddit community (r/museheadband) is an active peer resource. For research-specific support, contact our team.

Yes. Muse supports institutional purchasing through purchase orders. Our team will work with you to find a purchasing pathway that fits your institution's requirements. Book a meeting with the research sales team to begin the institutional purchasing process.

Muse Athena collects reliable ERPs including P300 and N200. A timing chip on board the Athena band ensures timing precision that overcomes bluetooth latency concerns.

In the Muse Mobile research platform we have Stroop, Oddball, N-back and flankers tasks which all elicit ERPs while recording EEG and FNIRS data. With our Desktop software you can use various workflows to capture ERPs.

Please reach out to the research sales team to discuss ERP software options.

Yes. Muse's sleep staging has been independently validated against polysomnography, the clinical gold standard. The Lanthier et al. (2025) study published in SLEEP Advances reported a Cohen's kappa of 0.76 (expert scoring agreement in 0.75) and per-stage accuracy of 88–96%, which is comparable to inter-rater agreement between expert PSG scorers. This validation was conducted independently and is not manufacturer-funded.

The Muse’s sleep scoring is based on EEG alone, and is considerably more accurate than sleep wearables on the finger or wrist (actigraphy)

Muse provides step-by-step instructions and Python scripts for cleaning and denoising raw EEG data, included with the desktop and mobile research software tools. Standard EEG toolboxes such as EEGLAB and MNE-Python are also fully compatible with Muse data exports. 

Muse S Athena and Muse 2 features four EEG electrodes and one reference electrode. Following the international 10-20 system, the electrodes are positioned at AF7 and AF8 above the eyebrows, and TP9 and TP10 near the ears, with FpZ serving as the reference. 

Muse 2 can also support an additional auxiliary electrode, and Muse S Athena can support up to 4 auxiliary electrodes. These electrodes can be purchased from the Muse research sales team, and plug into the USB-C port on the Muse device. These electrodes can be placed anywhere on the head (EEG), face (EOG or EMG) or clavicle (EKG), or limb (long cable for EMG)   enabling expanded electrode configurations for specialized research protocols.

Note: on smaller or larger head sizes, AF7 and AF8 may shift slightly toward FP1 and FP2 respectively, worth noting in methods sections for publication accuracy.

Muse devices and research software are priced separately to accommodate different study designs and institutional purchasing structures. To receive a research-specific quote, book a meeting with the Muse research sales team.

Yes. Muse devices have been used in multiple NIH-funded research studies, and the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) currently uses Muse in their own research programs. This makes Muse an eligible and precedented budget line item in NIH, CIHR, and NSF grant applications, as well as with multiple other granting agencies. The Muse research team can provide budget justification documentation and cost comparison templates to support grant applications.

Muse holds CE marking in Europe and FCC and UL certification for the US and Canada. In the United States, Muse falls under the FDA category of a general wellness device, which does not require FDA clearance for consumer use. When used in research contexts, Muse falls under the research exemption category.

Yes. Multiple independent peer-reviewed studies have validated Muse EEG data quality across sleep, meditation, and cognitive research applications.

In a 2025 study published in SLEEP Advances, Lanthier et al. validated the Muse S headband against simultaneous polysomnography in 56 adults, finding 88–96% per-stage accuracy and a Cohen's kappa of 0.76 — comparable to inter-rater agreement between expert PSG scorers (view study). 

Muse S and Muse 2 include built-in auxiliary EXG input channels designed for extended electrode configurations, giving researchers flexibility beyond the standard four-channel montage on the band itself.

We have single channel Aux inputs into the USB-C port of the Athena and Muse2. The electrode is a gold cup electrode that can be adhered to the head with 10-20 paste, it can also be attached to the face (EOG or EMG) or clavicle/chest for full EKG from the same device.

Auxiliary electrodes can be purchased from the research sales team, contact us here. A 4 channel montage for the Athena will be released in late 2026.

Our research tools output raw EEG, Optics (PPG / fNIRS), and accelerometer data via OSC and LSL, and can record files in CSV and EDF. Muse’s EEG is 256hz. Muse’s sleep research tools also provide PSG level sleep scoring according to ASSM guidelines.

The consumer Muse app cannot provide this data, you need to contact us to gain access to our research tools.

Muse samples EEG at 256Hz, which is more than sufficient for research-grade sleep staging, event-related potential (ERP) studies, and spectral analysis. The device uses dry electrodes with active noise cancellation, and independent validation studies have confirmed signal quality comparable to clinical-grade ambulatory EEG systems. Muse 2 and Muse S Athena also include PPG and accelerometry in a single wearable device, and Muse S Athena can provide SpO2 in our research tools.

Over 200 peer-reviewed studies have been published using Muse devices across sleep research, mindfulness, cognitive performance, ADHD, pain management, and clinical neuroscience. Research has been conducted at institutions including Harvard Medical School, Mayo Clinic, the University of Toronto, and NASA. A curated selection of published studies is available on the Muse research publications page.

MuseS Athena contains 5 optodes on the forehead for FNIRS study. There is a central emitter and a short and long channel detector over the left prefrontal cortex, and a short and long channel detector over the right prefrontal cortex. This means you can look at left PFC and right PFC activity independently and simultaneously. The device can also be positioned with the emitter further to the left or right, in order to look at FNIRS activity in the Dorsal lateral PFC.