Getting the Perfect Headset Fit
If you are reading this before your very first session, don't worry about memorizing these steps. We will guide you through an interactive, step-by-step setup right in the app.
However, if you're reading this after your session, it is completely normal to wonder, “Did I actually place this in the right spot?”, this guide is here to satiate your curiosity and explain the 'why' behind the fit.
The Mave headset is designed to target specific networks in your Prefrontal Cortex (known in neuroscience as the F3 and F4 areas). While that sounds highly technical, finding the correct spot on your own forehead is actually quite intuitive.
The Rule of Thumb: The "Four-Finger" Method
For most people, finding the right placement takes just a few seconds. Simply place your hand horizontally right above your eyebrows. The top of your fourth finger is roughly where the top edge of the headset pads should sit. That’s it!
The Hairline Exception (For Shorter Foreheads) What if placing the headset four fingers high pushes the pads into your hair?
If you have a shorter forehead, do not place the headset over your hair. For the gentle current to work, it needs to transfer smoothly from the headset to your scalp. Hair acts as a natural insulator and blocks this conductivity, meaning the electrical field won't properly reach your skin.
If the four-finger rule puts the headset in your hair, simply slide it down until the pads are resting comfortably on the bare skin of your forehead. In a nutshell: place the headset as high as possible (up to four fingers), but always strictly below the hairline.
The Tape Measure Method
If you are curious to see exactly how the science maps out, or if you are someone who simply finds comfort in precise data, there are tools available. The Beam F3 Locator, for example, allows you to measure the circumference of your head and calculate the exact "10-20 EEG" coordinates for your skull.
We want to provide this resource for anyone who finds comfort in exact numbers. However, we also want to assure you: from a scientific standpoint, this level of precision is absolutely not necessary for your daily sessions.
Why don't you need exact measurements?
It's the physics of the headset.
The Mave device does not fire a tiny, laser-focused beam of electricity. Instead, it creates a broad electrical field across your forehead.
Because this field is so wide, it naturally encompasses the targeted F3 and F4 areas of your brain. Even if your headset placement is off by a few centimeters, that wide field ensures the correct neural networks are still targeted in the session.