#165: 🎙️ INTERVIEW | Training Your Brain with Neurofeedback Pioneer Ariel Garten on Focus, Sleep & Brain Optimization
Unlocking Your Brain's Potential with Real-Time Feedback
Hey friends,
This week’s conversation blew my mind, literally.
I sat down with Ariel Garten, neuroscientist and founder of Muse, the brain-sensing headband that’s helping half a million people worldwide train their brains in real-time.
I loved her quote, “Your brain is like the weather, sometimes stormy, sometimes calm, and you can actually learn to shift it.”
Ariel breaks down how neurofeedback works and why seeing your brain activity in real-time changes everything. She shows how three minutes a day can literally rewire your attention, sleep, and cognitive performance.
You’ll discover:
How real-time brain feedback teaches you to control your mental state
Why meditation with neurofeedback beats meditation alone
The surprising truth about what sleep actually looks like in your brain
How to fall asleep 55% faster (backed by research)
The P300 brain response and why it matters for cognitive health
How prefrontal cortex training builds sustained focus
Why people with ADD/ADHD have distinct brain signatures
This isn’t about complicated brain scans or expensive lab visits. It’s about accessible technology that gives you agency over your own mind.
Whether you’re struggling with focus, sleep, or just want to optimize your brain performance, this conversation reveals what’s actually possible when you can see your brain in action.
Cheers,
Nina
P.S. Ariel’s journey started with making the CN Tower lights respond to people’s brainwaves at the 2010 Olympics. Now she’s helping us all tap into that same brain power.
Watch the episode here:
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction to Muse and Neuroscience
01:50 The Journey of Muse: From Concept to Reality
04:29 User Experience: Feedback and Interaction with Muse
06:54 Training the Brain: Techniques and Processes
09:44 Understanding Calmness: EEG Insights and Metacognition
12:12 Evolution of Use Cases: Meditation to Sleep Optimization
14:52 The Muse S: Enhancing Sleep Quality
17:35 The Complexity of Sleep: Insights from EEG Studies
22:10 Transforming Sleep Through Mindfulness
24:33 Understanding Calmness and Anxiety
26:06 Enhancing Focus and Productivity
27:52 The Role of Muse in Daily Life
29:19 Exploring ADHD and Focus
31:30 The Future of Brain Diagnostics
34:01 Innovations in Brain Measurement
36:34 The Limits of Brain Training
39:30 Best Practices for Brain Training
Listen to the episode on 🔴YouTube, 🟢 Spotify, 🟣 Apple Podcasts, 🟠 Substack Podcasts.
Where to find Ariel Garten:
Twitter/X: @choosemuse
Instagram: @choosemuse
Where to find Nina Patrick, PhD:
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Edited by Wright Time Publishing