NeuroSky MS1 Users Manual
Instruction Manual
e NeuroSky product families consist of hardware and
software components for simple integration of this biosensor technology into consumer and industrial end-applications.
All products are designed and manufactured to meet exacting
consumer specications for quality, pricing, and feature
sets. NeuroSky sets itself apart by providing buildingblock component solutions that offer friendly synergies
with related and complementary technological solutions.
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BECAUSESOME JURISDICTIONS PROHIBIT THE EXCLUSION
OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL
OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES.
Contents
Introduction to the MindSet 4
MindSet Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
NeuroSky Technology Overview 5
Brainwaves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
inkGear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
eSense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
eSense Meter - General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
eSense Meter - Technical Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
ATTENTION eSense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
MEDITATION eSense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Setting Up Your MindSet 8
Minimum System Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Power On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Charging the MindSet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Bluetooth Dongle Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Windows Vista . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Mac OS X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Bluetooth MindSet Pairing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Windows Vista . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Mac OS X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Serial Port Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Windows Vista . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Mac OS X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Bluetooth Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Using Your MindSet 20
Fitting the MindSet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
MindSet Stereo Audio and Bluetooth Headset Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Windows Vista . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Mac OS X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Software Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Windows Vista . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Mac OS X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Brainwave Visualizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
e Adventures of NeuroBoy BCI Technology Demonstration . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Additional Products 27
MindKit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
MindSet Development Tools (MDT) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Care and Maintenance 28
Troubleshooting 30
Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
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3
Chapter 1
Introduction to the MindSet
ank you for purchasing NeuroSky's MindSet™. is Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) device turns
your brainwaves into actions, unlocking new worlds of interactivity. e MindSet reports the wearer’s
mental state in the form of NeuroSky's proprietary Attention and Meditation eSense™ algorithms,
along with raw wave and information about the brainwave frequency bands. e NeuroSky MindSet
can be used with supported video games, research software, or a number of other applications for an
enhanced user experience.
For any technical information updates and additional support questions not answered by this document, please register at the NeuroSky support website at http://support.neurosky.com. We also rec-
ommend you join our email list by lling out the form on http://www.neurosky.com to receive general
information about NeuroSky, new products announcements, and any technical information updates.
MindSet Contents
• MindSet Quick Start Guide
• MindSet headset with built-in Bluetooth® audio
• MindSet BCI Demonstration Software CD, containing:
– PDF documents:
* MindSet Instruction Manual
* MindSet Quick Start Guide
* Brainwave Visualizer Manual
* e Adventures of NeuroBoy BCI Technical Demonstration Manual
– Applications for PC and Mac:
* Brainwave Visualizer
* e Adventures of NeuroBoy BCI Technical Demonstration
• USB cable, for charging the MindSet
• USB Bluetooth dongle
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4
Chapter 2
NeuroSky Technology Overview
Brainwaves
e last century of neuroscience research has greatly increased our knowledge about the brain and
particularly, the electrical signals emitted by neurons ring in the brain. e patterns and frequencies
of these electrical signals can be measured by placing a sensor on the scalp. e MindSet contains
NeuroSky inkGear™ technology, which measures the analog electrical signals, commonly referred to
as brainwaves, and processes them into digital signals to make the measurements available to games and
applications. e table below gives a general synopsis of some of the commonly-recognized frequencies
that tend to be generated by different types of activity in the brain:
Brainwave Type Frequency range Mental states and conditions
Delta 0.1Hz to 3Hz Deep, dreamless sleep, non-REM sleep, unconscious
eta 4Hz to 7Hz Intuitive, creative, recall, fantasy, imaginary, dream
Alpha 8Hz to 12Hz Relaxed, but not drowsy, tranquil, conscious
Low Beta 12Hz to 15Hz Formerly SMR, relaxed yet focused, integrated
Midrange Beta 16Hz to 20Hz inking, aware of self & surroundings
High Beta 21Hz to 30Hz Alertness, agitation
ThinkGear
inkGear is the technology inside every NeuroSky product or partner product that enables a device
to interface with the wearers’ brainwaves. It includes the sensor that touches the forehead, the contact
and reference points located on the ear pad, and the on-board chip that processes all of the data. Both
the raw brainwaves and the eSense Meters (Attention and Meditation) are calculated on the inkGear
chip.
eSense
eSense™ is a NeuroSky's proprietary algorithm for characterizing mental states. To calculate eSense,
the NeuroSky inkGear technology amplies the raw brainwave signal and removes the ambient
noise and muscle movement. e eSense algorithm is then applied to the remaining signal, resulting
in the interpreted eSense meter values. Please note that eSense meter values do not describe an exact
number, but instead describe ranges of activity.
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Chapter 2 – NeuroSky Technology Overview
eSense Meter - General Information
e eSense meters are a way to show how effectively the user is engaging Attention (similar to concentration) or Meditation (similar to relaxation).
Like exercising an unfamiliar muscle, it may take some time to gain full prociency with each of the
eSense™ meters. In many cases, people tend to be better at one eSense than the other when they
rst begin. We recommend trying different tactics until you are successful with one. Once you see
a reaction on the screen from your efforts, you will be able to duplicate the action more easily with
additional practice.
Generally, Attention can be controlled through a visual focus. Focus on a singular idea. Try to “funnel”
your concentration and focus your train of thought towards pushing up the meter. Other suggestions
include picking a point on the screen to stare at or imagining the action you are trying to accomplish
happening. For example, look at the Attention eSense meter and imagine the dial moving towards
higher numbers.
For Meditation, it typically helps to try to relax yourself. Connect to a sense of peace and calm by
clearing your mind of thoughts and distractions. If you are having difficulty engaging Meditation, close
your eyes, wait a number of seconds, and then open your eyes to see how the meter has responded.
If you have trouble at rst in controlling your eSense meter levels, be patient. Try different techniques
and practice. Also be sure to read and try to understand the Technical Description in order to get a
better idea about how eSense actually works under the hood.
eSense Meter - Technical Description
For each different type of eSense (i.e. Attention, Meditation), the meter value is reported on a relative
eSense scale of 1 to 100. On this scale, a value between 40 to 60 at any given moment in time is considered “neutral” and is similar in notion to “baselines” that are established in conventional brainwave
measurement techniques (though the method for determining a inkGear baseline is proprietary and
may differ from conventional brainwaves).
A value from 60 to 80 is considered “slightly elevated”, and may be interpreted as levels tending to
be higher than normal (levels of Attention or Meditation that may be higher than normal for a given
person). Values from 80 to 100 are considered “elevated”, meaning they are strongly indicative of
heightened levels of that eSense.
Similarly, on the other end of the scale, a value between 20 to 40 indicates “reduced” levels of the
eSense, while a value between 1 to 20 indicates “strongly lowered” levels of the eSense. ese levels
may indicate states of distraction, agitation, or abnormality, according to the opposite of each eSense.
e reason for the somewhat wide ranges for each interpretation is that some parts of the eSense
algorithm are dynamically learning and at times employ some “slow-adaptive” algorithms to adjust
to natural uctuations and trends of each user, accounting for and compensating for the fact that
brainwaves in the human brain are subject to normal ranges of variance and uctuation. is is part
of the reason why inkGear sensors are able to operate on a wide range of individuals under an
extremely wide range of personal and environmental conditions, while still giving good accuracy and
reliability.
eSense Meter - General Information
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Chapter 2 – NeuroSky Technology Overview
ATTENTION eSense
e eSense Attention meter indicates the intensity of a user's level of mental “focus” or “attention”,
such as that which occurs during intense concentration and directed (but stable) mental activity. Its
value ranges from 0 to 100. Distractions, wandering thoughts, lack of focus, or anxiety may lower the
Attention meter level. See eSense Meter - General Information for details about interpreting eSense
levels in general.
MEDITATION eSense
e eSense Meditation meter indicates the level of a user's mental “calmness” or “relaxation”. Its value
ranges from 0 to 100. Note that Meditation is a measure of a person's mental states, not physical levels,
so simply relaxing all the muscles of the body may not immediately result in a heightened Meditation
level. However, for most people in most normal circumstances, relaxing the body often helps the mind
to relax as well. Meditation is related to reduced activity by the active mental processes in the brain.
It has long been an observed effect that closing one's eyes turns off the mental activities which process
images from the eyes. So closing the eyes is often an effective method for increasing the Meditation
meter level. Distractions, wandering thoughts, anxiety, agitation, and sensory stimuli may lower the
Meditation meter levels. See eSense Meter - General Information for details about interpreting eSense
levels in general.
eSense Meter - Technical Description
June 10, 2009 | © 2009 NeuroSky, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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Chapter 3
Setting Up Your MindSet
Figure 3.1: Overview of the MindSet
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Chapter 3 – Setting Up Your MindSet
Minimum System Requirements
PC Mac
Windows Vista OS X 10.5 "Leopard" or later
Operating system
Pentium 4 1.6GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor
512MB 1GB
Memory
200MB 200MB
Hard disk
Bundled USB dongle Bundled USB dongle or built-in receiver
Bluetooth
Power On
required
To turn on the MindSet, hold down the power button until you see the blue LED turn on. Turn off
the MindSet by holding down the same power button until the blue LED goes from ashing to solid.
en let go of the button and the LED will turn off.
Charging the MindSet
e MindSet has a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that is charged using the mini-B USB port on top
of the left ear cup of the MindSet. Rotate the head and fork outwards to reveal the mini-B USB port.
Figure 3.2: Mini-B USB port on left ear cup
To charge the MindSet, plug the supplied USB cable into the MindSet, and connect the other end to a
computer or to a USB charger. e red LED on the MindSet will light up to indicate that the MindSet
is being charged. Once it is completely charged, the red LED will turn off. Allow the MindSet to fully
charge before using it the rst time, and then recharge the MindSet as necessary when not in use. e
MindSet may take up to eight hours to charge. Charging it overnight is ideal.
Minimum System Requirements
June 10, 2009 | © 2009 NeuroSky, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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Chapter 3 – Setting Up Your MindSet
Important: Do not wear the MindSet while charging.
Bluetooth Dongle Setup
Windows Vista
1. Plug the included USB Bluetooth dongle into an open USB slot.
2. Windows Vista will automatically initiate the Found New Hardware Wizard. Allow Windows
Update to search for software. Select "Yes this time only." and click "Next."
3. Windows Vista will nd the software to install. Select "Install the software automatically (Recommended)." Click "Next."
4. Allow Windows Vista to install the drivers.
5. Your USB Bluetooth dongle driver installation is complete. Click "Finish."
Mac OS X
If your Mac already has Bluetooth installed, proceed. Otherwise, simply plug the included Bluetooth
dongle into an open USB slot. Mac OS X will automatically utilize the appropriate device drivers.
Bluetooth MindSet Pairing
Windows Vista
1. Open the Bluetooth Devices icon from the Windows System Tray. If this icon is not available,
open Bluetooth Devices from the Windows Vista Control Panel.
2. Select “Add” to pair a new device.
Bluetooth Dongle Setup
June 10, 2009 | © 2009 NeuroSky, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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