Why Signal Quality Matters Before You Start a Session

Before starting a session in the Mind Mirror App, signal quality is essential. Neurofeedback only works when the data coming from the brain is reliable. If the signal is poor, the app may be responding to noise, muscle tension, or faulty contact rather than to your actual brain activity.

What “Good Signal Quality” Means

Signal quality reflects how well the EEG electrodes are making contact with the scalp. In the Mind Mirror system, optimal signal quality is indicated by green lights, meaning that nearly all data is being transmitted correctly. Lower values indicate dropouts, poor contact, or interference

The system continuously monitors:

  • Signal Quality – quality of electrode–scalp contact

  • Activity – muscle tension or movement that can distort the EEG

  • 50/60 Hz Noise – electrical interference from the environment

All indicators need to be in the “green” zone before a session begins

 

Why This Matters for Your Training

EEG signals are extremely subtle. Muscle activity can be ten times stronger than EEG and can easily overwhelm brain signals if you move, tense your jaw, or hold tension in the neck and shoulders

Similarly, poor electrode contact, often caused by hair obstructing the sensor or worn electrodes, can result in distorted or ‘railing’ signals that do not reflect real brain activity

If signal quality is low, the app may still show patterns, but what you see is no longer a reliable reflection of your brain and state of consciousness. This means:

  • Feedback becomes less meaningful

  • Training effects are diluted or misleading

  • Progress is harder to interpret

 

What the App Helps You Check Before You Begin

Before starting a session, the system allows you to:

  • Verify that all signal indicators are green

  • Detect and correct electrical interference

  • Adjust electrode placement or contact if needed

 

Training the Brain, Not the Noise

Taking a moment to check signal quality is not a technical detail; it is a foundational part of effective neurofeedback. Clean data ensures that:

  • The feedback truly reflects your brain activity

  • Changes you observe are meaningful

  • Training supports genuine self-regulation

In Short

Before you begin a session in the Mind Mirror App, check your signal quality first.
Clear signals create clear feedback, and clear feedback is what allows your brain to learn, adapt, and regulate itself effectively.

For more background on how neurofeedback works, see the article What Is Neurofeedback?


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