NeuroLingo Pro
Field Guide

How to setup your headset. Follow the steps, watch the headset light, and study hard for the next 90 minutes — the headset only works as well as you do.

Cat sitting in a pair of grey sneakers, ready to go Woman wearing an orange HAX headband in front of a whiteboard, pouting at the camera
1

Turn on the device

Hold the power button for about 2 seconds. A short buzz and a solid blue light mean the device is on and ready.

Underside of the NeuroLingo Pro control arm with two buttons; the power button is circled
Circled
The power button — hold for 2 seconds. The button above it is Play.
2

Insert the sponges

Tear open a fresh sponge pack and pop both sponges into the electrode holders. The two sponges want different amounts of water. Give the front sponge a light squeeze before seating it so saline doesn't run down your face. Seat the back sponge as-is — don't squeeze it. That water is what carries the connection through your hair.

Open the pack
Tear the foil and pull out both sponges
Front electrodeOver the right eyeLight squeeze before it goes in
✓ Front sponge
Light squeeze first, then seat it — keeps saline off your face
Luke wearing the headset with saline running down his cheek, looking miserable
✗ Too wet
Front sponge not squeezed — saline runs straight down your face
Crying banana cat meme

湿湿的… 怎么会事呢

"So soggy… how could this happen"

Rear electrodeOver the left earNo squeeze — seat it wet
✓ Back sponge
Straight in, no squeeze — the water carries the connection through hair
✓ Back sponge check
Should feel damp to the touch — leave it, don't squeeze it
Cat snug in a banana suit

湿湿的，刚刚好

"Nice and damp. Just right."

3

Place the headset correctly

One sponge sits centered over the right eye; the other sits over the left ear. Bring the headset on from the front so both sponges land where they belong — not dropped on from the top like a crown. Long hair? Pull it up and away so the ear electrode touches skin, not hair.

Animation of putting the headset on from the front, with an arrow showing the direction of motion
✓ Correct
Putting the headset on from the front — right-eye sponge centered, left-ear sponge seated
Animation showing the front edge of the ear electrode aligned with the front of the left ear
✓ Alignment
The front of the ear electrode lines up with the front of your left ear
✗ Incorrect
Lowering it on from the top — sponges pull hair
4

Secure it with the strap

Make sure the electrodes have good connection with a snug headband.

✓ Secure
Strap on, snug fit
✗ Not secure
No strap — headset sliding around
Cat snug in a banana suit

紧紧的，很安全

"Nice and snug. Very safe."

5

Press play to start the session

Press Play. The light breathes green while the current ramps up, then holds solid green once stimulation is running. Expect a mild tingling that fades within a few minutes. Do not remove the headset during stimulation — if you must stop early, press either button to pause: the light flashes yellow while the current ramps down, then holds solid yellow. Press Play to resume.

Step 5.1 — The important part Study or practice diligently for the next 1.5 hours. Stimulation pairs with effort — the learning you do during the session is the whole point.
✓ Earning the session
Alec drilling Chinese with the headset on — effort is what the stimulation pairs with
✗ Wasting the session
Luke scrolling his phone — 90 minutes of stimulation, nothing to pair it with
Cat peering over the top of a book, staring at you
💡

What the light is telling you

The multicolor light on the control unit is the device talking to you. Buzzes go with it: a short buzz when it accepts a button press, two buzzes at session end, and a repeating double buzz with the red problem signal. When it blinks, respond — don't ignore it.

IndicatorStatusWhat it means / what to do
Off Device is off Hold the power button about 2 s to turn on.
Solid blue On, ready Not stimulating. Press Play to start a session.
Blue with a red blink every 2 s Ready, battery low Charge soon — it may not last a full session.
Breathing green Current ramping up or down Normal at the start and end of a session. Wait for solid green.
Solid green Session running Stimulation is on. Keep studying.
Flashing yellow Current ramping down Follows a pause, a problem, or plugging in the charger. Let it finish.
Solid yellow Paused Press Play to resume. Paused time doesn't count against the session.
Red with two quick blinks, repeating (double buzz) Problem During a session: poor electrode contact — the current has ramped down. Re-wet and reseat the sponges, get hair out of the way, then press Play to resume. Right after power-on: hardware fault — contact the study team. If it keeps coming back, contact the study team.
Three red blinks, then back to blue Can't start Today's stimulation allowance is used up, or you're outside your participation window. Try tomorrow; contact the study team if that seems wrong.
Red flashes, then off Battery empty Too low to switch on, or it ran out while on. Charge the device.
Breathing yellow (on charger) Charging Leave it on the charger.
Solid green (on charger) Fully charged Ready for the next session.
✓ Be Alec
Alec responding to the blinking LED
✗ Don't be Luke
Luke ignoring the blinking LED
✓ Pro move
Long hair? Put it up first so the electrodes sit on skin, not hair
6

Remove, power off, toss the sponges

The session ends automatically — the light breathes green while the current ramps down, then returns to solid blue with two short buzzes. Once ramp-down is complete, remove the headset, hold the power button to turn it off, and throw the sponges away. Sponges are single-use; never reuse them.

7

Connect the device to the charger

Plug it in so it's ready for the next session. The light breathes yellow while charging and turns solid green when full. The device will not turn on while connected to external power — charging time is rest time.

✓ Yes
Alec connecting the device to the charger
✗ No
Luke throwing the device on the ground
Banana cat and chicken-costume cat dancing

开香槟咯！今天也学习了

"Pop the champagne! We studied today too"

?

Something not right? Tell the study team

Use this for anything unexpected: a light you don't understand, a headset that won't start, a sponge problem, a missed session. It goes straight to the team's dashboard. If it's urgent, call (617) 657-3348.