Neurable Launches Brain-scanning Headphones To Track Focus
The $499 Neurable One uses EEG sensors to track attention and suggest breaks, but research on the new headphones’ effectiveness is still in progress.
Neurable has unveiled the Neurable One, a $499 pair of headphones that uses brain-wave sensors to track attention and offer guidance on when to focus or take a break. It is the company’s first headphone product under its own brand, following earlier devices made with other companies.
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How the headphones work
According to WIRED, the Neurable One has 12 electroencephalography, or EEG, sensors built into its earpads. Unlike earlier Neurable-powered headphones, users do not need to start a session in an app to capture brain activity: monitoring begins when they put the headphones on. The sensors can also be turned off so the device functions as ordinary headphones.
Neurable says the headphones can detect when attention is slipping and play a prompt to help the wearer refocus. If the system instead identifies signs of burnout, it recommends a break. A new companion app tracks eight measures, including focus, stress, sleepiness, processing speed and what Neurable calls “Brain Battery.” It also offers check-ins and reports that let users review their activity over time, WIRED reports.
Engadget reports that the headphones can help identify periods when a wearer is most focused during the working day. WIRED says the app also supports guided meditation and naps, adjusting audio based on the brain activity it detects.
Hardware, price and availability
The Neurable One has 40-millimeter beryllium drivers, six microphones, active noise cancellation and a mode that lets outside sound through. Both outlets report up to 22 hours of battery life for audio playback, falling to 12 hours with EEG monitoring active.
Neurable previously worked with Master & Dynamic on the MW75 Neuro and the lighter Neuro LT, Engadget reports. Although the Neurable One is being launched under Neurable’s own brand, CEO Ramses Alcaide told WIRED that an unnamed audio company helped with its non-EEG hardware.
The outlets differ on the precise sales timing: Engadget says the headphones are available to buy on October 1, while WIRED says they will be available in October through Neurable’s website.
What the workplace claims do—and do not—show
Alcaide told WIRED that enterprise customers buy Neurable headsets in bulk to help employees focus, not to monitor them, and said each user retains their own data. Neurable says it does not sell the brain data it collects or use it for advertising.
For workers considering the device as a productivity tool, its claims come with a qualification: WIRED reports that Neurable has no new effectiveness research to share for the Neurable One. The company points instead to earlier research involving its headset. The Neurable One is not categorized as a medical device, and the company says it is not intended to diagnose, treat or monitor medical conditions.
Sources
This story was compiled by AI from the reports below. Read the originals for the full details.