alphabeats questions answered
General information
What is alphabeats and how can it help me?
alphabeats is a cutting-edge mental performance solution that combines neurofeedback and music to enhance sleep, focus, flow, and recovery. It helps you achieve peak performance, manage stress, and improve overall mental resilience.
What is neurofeedback?
Neurofeedback trains you to control your brainwaves for better focus, reduced stress, and overall mental well-being. At alphabeats, we provide feedback in real-time on your brainwave activity so that you can learn to influence your mental state actively. This is especially beneficial for athletes seeking to boost their mental performance.
How does alphabeats work?
alphabeats requires an EEG-headband to monitor brain activity. By combining neurofeedback with music and cognitive tasks, it trains the brain to reach optimal mental states, promoting relaxation and focus. Similar to what you might do for your body, alphabeats is like a gym for your brain.
What is the science behind alphabeats?
alphabeats’ foundation was developed over 10 years ago by Philips, in the Netherlands. Scientists developed the technology to actually train the brain using neurofeedback and music. This was a groundbreaking discovery and inspired our founders to create alphabeats.
Our solution’s efficacy has been tested and results have been published in several research papers by Tilburg University. Users share results and success stories with alphabeats through our Pioneers Program, which is comprised of athletes across different sports.
Is alphabeats only for athletes?
No! alphabeats is for everyone who wants to improve their mental game. Most of our research has been conducted with athletes but we know that you don’t have to actively compete in sports to be an athlete in your own field.
How is alphabeats different from meditation apps?
Unlike traditional meditation apps, alphabeats integrates major-label music-driven neurofeedback with cognitive tasks and visual-auditory stimuli. This unique combination is specifically designed to meet the needs of athletes like you, offering a more engaging and effective mental training experience.
With the benefit of real-time neurofeedback, you can actually see your brain change and track it over time. However, like meditation and any other health routine, integration into your daily routine is best for results.
Benefits and Usage
What benefits can I expect from using alphabeats?
Our research shows that you can expect improved focus, better sleep, enhanced mental resilience, and faster recovery. Consistent use helps manage the mental strain of competitive sports and supports overall mental well-being.
Does alphabeats help me to improve my sleep?
alphabeats can improve sleep quality by promoting relaxation and reducing stress. Regular use helps train your brain to enter a calm, restful state more easily, leading to better and more restorative sleep over time. Our research shows improvements in participants' sleep quality, and many users have shared experiences of enhanced sleep benefits with alphabeats.
Does alphabeats help with anxiety management?
Research indicates that our neurofeedback and music-driven approach can contribute to improved mental performance and relaxation, which may help manage anxiety symptoms. Many users report feeling calmer and more focused after using alphabeats. There is currently no specific research suggesting alphabeats' impact on anxiety management. We are committed to continuous research to further understand and enhance these benefits. Users should consult their medical professional for more information about managing anxiety.
Does alphabeats help with tinnitus management?
While our primary focus is enhancing mental performance, some users have shared experiences where music therapy, meditation, and overall mindfulness helps them deal with some of the stress related to tinnitus. To be clear, there is no research that suggests alphabeats is a treatment for tinnitus. We are exploring various applications of our technology and remain open to investigating its potential benefits for tinnitus management. Users should consult their medical professional for more information about managing tinnitus.
What will I experience when I use alphabeats?
You can compare an alphabeats training with a meditation session, a focused music experience, an engaging cognitive training, and a combination of all of the above. alphabeats will reward your brain when focused on alpha and prompt your brain to return to alpha when it is distracted.
How does alphabeats reward or prompt my brain?
That’s our secret sauce, but once you start using it you will recognize it’s subtle, elegant, and pleasant. We use the power of music, cognitive games, and our patented algorithm to be your mental performance companion.
How often should I use alphabeats to see results?
alphabeats is a solution for frequent and consistent use. After your onboarding, which includes 5 ‘Fundamentals’ sessions, we recommend using alphabeats 3-4 times a week for 8-10 min a day. Our users typically notice benefits within 4-6 weeks, with significant improvements in mental focus and relaxation.
When should I use alphabeats?
We recommend fitting alphabeats into your daily routine. It doesn’t matter if you do a session in the morning, before or after training, or right before you go to sleep. Our users report results with any schedule.
Can I use alphabeats during my training or competition?
alphabeats is designed as a stand-alone training program and for optimal results, it should not be used while engaging in other activities. It’s best to create a quiet environment where you can sit up straight and focus on the experience.
Can I lay down while using alphabeats?
Measuring brain activity through an EEG-headband is sensitive and precise technology. Ensuring that the headband is properly fitted and doesn’t lose contact with your scalp is important. Sitting upright, preferably with your back supported, is necessary for optimal results.
Can I use alphabeats too much?
While alphabeats is designed for regular use, it is recommended to use it 3-4 times a week for optimal results. Using it several times a day is not necessary and may not provide additional benefits. It’s important to allow your brain time to rest and integrate the training. If you have specific needs, consult with our support team for personalized guidance.
Technical Details
What are brainwaves?
Brainwaves are electrical impulses in the brain, measured by EEG (electroencephalography). They reflect the activity of neurons and are categorized into different types based on their frequency: Delta, Theta, Alpha, Beta, and Gamma waves. Each type is associated with different mental states and functions.
Why is the alpha brainwave so important?
Alpha (𝛂) brainwaves (8-12 Hz) are associated with relaxed wakefulness, creativity, and reduced stress. They help suppress irrelevant information, allowing you to achieve perfect focus, also known as a flow state. Alpha waves are crucial for mental clarity and peak performance. Increasing the production of alpha waves helps improve focus, relaxation, and overall mental well-being, making them particularly beneficial for athletes.
What does my alphascore mean and what insights will I get?
The alpha score is a reflection of how well you have been able to build and maintain your alpha levels throughout a session. Big improvements lead to higher scores, small improvements lead to lower scores. Every completed session will be recorded in your dashboard. It will, amongst other data, display your alpha score.
How is user data handled and stored?
User data, including EEG and session statistics, is securely stored on the Google Cloud Platform. We comply with international data protection standards like GDPR to ensure privacy and security.
Is alphabeats safe to use?
Yes, alphabeats is designed to be safe and non-invasive. The EEG-headband only records brain activity and does not emit any electronic signals to the brain.
Which EEG devices are compatible with alphabeats?
alphabeats currently works with a BrainBit, Muse 2 (MU-02 or higher) or Muse S EEG headband. The Muse 2014 (MU-O1) model is currently not supported. Do you have a device that is not supported yet? Let us know. We are constantly expanding compatibility to include more EEG wearable technologies. In case you are not sure whether your device is compatible, please reach out to our support team.
Which phones are compatible with alphabeats?
We support most modern iPhones and Android models. For Android, we require at least OS version 13 or higher. If you you’re unsure about your devices compatibility, please reach out to us. alphabeats also requires a decent pair of headphones, either in-ear, on-ear, and over-ear.
In which countries can I download or buy alphabeats?
Starting November 29, 2024, our app will be available globally on the App Store and Google Play Store. Subscriptions can be purchased from any country. However, orders that include an EEG wearable are currently limited to the United States.
Getting Started
How do I get started with alphabeats?
To get started, choose one of our bundles, which includes an EEG headband and a subscription. If you already have a compatible device, you can purchase just an app subscription. Follow the provided user guide to set up your headband and begin your mental training sessions.
What kind of music does alphabeats offer?
alphabeats features a wide variety of curated, regularly updated, major-label music. Playlists include Pop, Rock, Hip-Hop, Latin, and Country but also science-backed wellness music and era playlists like the 80s and 00s.
Can I choose my own music?
alphabeats allows you to train your brain while listening to your favorite music genres. You can select a genre or playlist, and a song will be chosen for your session. If you don’t like the selected song, you can skip up to 6 songs per session. You cannot use alphabeats with Spotify, Apple Music or any other third-party streaming platform.
Based on your geographic region, we offer different music stations:
United States
- Pop
- Rock
- Alt-Indie
- Country
- Today's Hip-Hop
- Throwback Hip-Hop
- R&B
- Classical
- Jazz
- Latin
- Downtempo
- Acoustic
- Dance & Electronic
- Sleep
- Relaxation
- Meditation
- Focus
- 70s
- 80s
- 90s
- 00s
Other Regions
- Dance & Electronic
- Downtempo & Acoustic
- Hip-Hop
- Latin
- Pop
- Rock
- Focus
- Meditation
- Relaxation
- Sleep
Account and Membership
How can I update my payment details?
To update your payment method or billing details, please visit our subscription center. Follow the steps to confirm your new details.
How do I cancel my subscription?
You can cancel your membership anytime. To cancel your subscription or change your plan, please visit our subscription center. Follow the steps to confirm the cancellation.
How do I create an account?
Your account is automatically created during checkout. Once you've purchased a subscription or bundle, you can log into the app using the same email address.
Can I change my email address?
Yes, you can change your email address by sending a request to support@listenalphabeats.com. Please make sure to send the request from your current email address so we can verify your account ownership.
Can I switch to a different membership plan?
Yes, of course you can! To change your membership plan, please visit our subscription center.
Support and Policies
What should I do if I encounter issues with the headband or technology?
We offer dedicated customer service to help resolve any issues you may face. Detailed instructions and support are available to ensure you maximize the benefits of alphabeats.
Can children use alphabeats?
alphabeats is intended for adults but available for everyone. For children and adolescents, please consult with a parent, guardian, coach, or healthcare provider to ensure it is appropriate for use.
What if I don’t like it?
We believe that everyone can benefit from alphabeats but if you don’t like it, we won’t let you down and happily refund your package within 30-days of purchase. Terms and conditions apply, see terms and conditions here.
Feel free to reach out to support@listenalphabeats.com for any further questions or assistance. We’re here to help you achieve your mental performance goals!