Muse Athena Review: The EEG + fNIRS Headband That Finally Trains Focus (Not Just Relaxation)

Emma Mattison
4 days ago
4 min read

Muse Athena combines EEG + fNIRS for focus training and sleep tracking. Here’s what stood out, what’s annoying, and who it’s worth it for.

Is the Muse S Athena the ultimate meditation and sleep companion…or just another overpriced wearable?

My husband and I tested it, and if you’ve watched or readmy previous Muse reviews (Muse S + Muse 2), you already know I’ve been a fan of the system.

But I’ll say it plainly: Athena is a real upgrade.

If you want to try it and save money, Get 15% off your Muse headband with code

EMMAMATTISON here: https://choosemuse.com/emmamattison

Muse Athena Review: First Impressions (Comfort and Build Quality)

The first thing you notice is the physical upgrade.

The headband feels sturdier
The strap fits better
It’s more comfortable overnight

Muse positions Athena as designed for “all-night comfort,” and from our testing, I agree—especially compared to older, stiffer models.

The Big Upgrade: Muse Athena Uses EEG + fNIRS (Brain Activity + Brain Oxygenation)

Here’s what makes the Muse Athena review different from previous Muse headbands:

Athena combines EEG (brainwave activity) with fNIRS (measuring changes related to brain blood oxygenation/cognitive effort). Muse explicitly markets Athena as combining EEG + fNIRS and tracking brain blood oxygenation as part of its training.

That dual-sensor approach is what powers the new focus-training experience—including the eyes-open training mode you’re probably here for.

Alflight Mode (The Owl Game): Focus Training That’s Addictive…And Annoying at First

This is the feature that made me say, “Okay, this is different.”

Alflight is essentially a neurofeedback game where you’re training focus instead of just “calm.” Muse frames Athena as supporting mental strength training via fNIRS (real-time cognitive effort).

My experience (and my husband’s):

At first, it’s frustrating. The owl drops. A lot.
Then you start learning what real concentration feels like internally.
And once you find your “strategy,” it becomes weirdly addictive.

One tip from our testing: don’t overdo the “boost” behavior if you find yourself trying to force the result. Treat it like training—work, recover, repeat.

Real-Time Brain Oxygenation Visuals (The Feature That Made Me Go “Ohhhh”)

Beyond the owl game, Athena lets you visualize brain oxygenation patterns in real time—and my graph looked totally different from my husband’s.

I loved this because it gave me a clearer internal sense of:

What focus feels like
What “trying too hard” feels like
When my attention actually wanders

Muse describes this as part of the “brain blood oxygenation (fNIRS)” capability—seeing changes as your brain responds to mental load.

Muse Athena Meditation Feedback (Mind + Body + Breath + Heart)

Muse Athena still includes the core Muse experience—calming feedback and guided sessions—but with more responsiveness and metrics.

On the product page, Muse describes:

EEG sensors for brain activity biofeedback
PPG sensors for heart rate monitoring
motion/gyroscope style tracking used for posture/movement and sleep-position insights
breath detection via accelerometer-based breathing rhythm tracking

This matters if you’re someone who struggles to meditate “in silence” and needs structure.

Cognitive Score and Alpha Peak Frequency (APF): Why It Doesn’t Show Up Immediately

Athena includes Muse’s Alpha Peak cognitive performance tracking.

In the app experience, you’ll see that it takes multiple sessions to establish a baseline—Muse’s own support documentation notes you need at least 10 biofeedback sessions to calibrate Alpha Peak Frequency (APF).

So if you’re a “give me the data on day one” person, you’ll need patience.

Sleep Tracking and “Digital Sleeping Pills”

Athena also shines at night.

Muse advertises EEG-powered sleep staging (light, deep, REM) and sleep features like sleep-position tracking and Sleep Assist-style responsive audio.

Muse calls the responsive story feature Digital Sleeping Pills™—bedtime stories that cue your brain toward sleep and can help you get back to sleep when your brain activity changes.

My honest catch (from real use): Some story voices are so engaging that they can keep you awake because you want to hear what happens next.

So choose truly calming audio…or do what we do and use external audio.

Premium Subscription: The Best Stuff Is Often Behind It

Muse pushes Premium hard, and I get why.

Muse explicitly lists Premium features like:

External audio (pair with other meditation apps/music/audiobooks)
broader access to cognitive performance insights and curated programs

Translation: if you’re buying Athena to use it seriously, you’ll probably want Premium.

Price and Battery Life (What You Should Know Before You Buy)

Pricing changes, so always check the current listing.

As of the product page I’m referencing:

Muse S Athena Headband is listed at $474.99 USD
The Bundle & Save (Headband + 1 Year Premium Subscription) is listed at $519.98 USD (with a higher crossed-out price shown).

Battery life:

Muse’s comparison page lists ~10-hour battery life.

Real-life note: if you use it for day training and overnight tracking, you should expect to charge it regularly.

Who I Think Muse Athena Is For (and who should skip it)

Worth considering if you want:

A legit “brain training” feel for focus (not just relaxation)
Better overnight comfort than older headbands
A combined system for focus + sleep + recovery with structured guidance

You might skip it if:

You want a cheap sleep tracker
You hate wearing anything on your head
You’re hoping this replaces professional care

And I’ll say this clearly: Athena (or any Muse device) is not a replacement for a professional. If you need clinical help, get clinical help. If you want neurofeedback coaching, that’s where something like Myndlift can come in—but don’t self-diagnose based on a wearable.

Final Verdict

With Athena + Premium, Muse isn’t just another wearable—it’s closer to a brain training system, especially because of the EEG + fNIRS focus component and the way Muse educates users inside the app experience and resources.

If you want to try it:15% off with code

EMMAMATTISON: https://choosemuse.com/emmamattison

Product Link Disclosure

This post includes affiliate links. If you purchase through my link/code, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

About the Author

Emma Mattison is the founder of Emma Mattison Fitness, where she helps adults 40+ build functional strength, improve mobility, and support long-term health with science-backed training and holistic lifestyle coaching. She’s known for cutting through wellness marketing noise with practical strategies that work in real life.

References

Muse S Athena product page (pricing, sensors, sleep features, external audio, etc.).
Muse comparison page (fNIRS features, Digital Sleeping Pills™, ~10-hour battery).
Business Wire announcement: Muse S Athena combining EEG + fNIRS.
Muse Alpha Peak overview (what Alpha Peak is and how it’s used).
Muse support doc: Alpha Peak Frequency calibration requiring at least 10 sessions.