Frequently Asked Questions

Get to know more about Mente, the company behind it and the therapy we offer.

Click on a question to view the answer.

Who is Neurotech?

Neurotech International Limited, is a medical device and solutions company incorporated in Australia, which operates through its Malta-based subsidiary, AAT Research. Neurotech’s primary mission is to improve the lives of people with neurological conditions, with a vision of becoming the global leader in home-use and clinical neurotechnology solutions that are both accessible and affordable. Through flagship device Mente and its associated platform, Neurotech is focused on the development and commercialisation of technological solutions for the screening and treatment of symptoms associated with conditions such as autism.
Mente is the world’s first home therapy that is clinically proven to improve relaxation in autistic children with elevated Delta band brain activity.

What is Mente?

Mente is a light and portable neurofeedback device that delivers brain entrainment with tailor-made sounds.

Mente is an easy-to-use, effective neurofeedback that has already demonstrated its efficacy as a home-based tool in reducing stress-induced symptoms and behavioural issues in the ASD population, which showed a specific dysfunctional neural profile.

Is Mente certified as a medical device? What certifications does it hold?
Yes, Mente holds the CE Medical certification with indication for children with ASD. AAT is ISO 13485 certified.
Who can use Mente?
Mente is designed to reduce excessive activations of low and high frequencies brainwaves, such as Delta and Beta, which can be observed among neurodevelopmental disorders and learning difficulties. These unbalanced brain pattern can lead to inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity, obsessing, anxiety, sleep and memory problems. No history of hearing impairments, epilepsy or sporadic epileptic episodes should be present. Always consult your physician or medical professional before using Mente. We strongly recommend that clinicians also carry out a QEEG to determine whether Mente is the correct therapy for the user. Mente might be ineffective if the targeted neural profile is not present.
How long should a patient make use of the Mente system?
Therapy duration varies from one individual to another. Your clinician or medical professional will determine for how long you need to use Mente and under what conditions.
Is there an optimal age to use Mente?

Yes, the ideal period is throughout childhood. Mente is tested and indicated for children between 3-12.

What is neurofeedback training?
Neurofeedback training is a form of biofeedback which uses brain activity. induced by a neurological reading – in this case, EEG. During training, electrodes on the scalp measure electrical brain patterns – much like a physician listens to your heart from the surface of your skin. This data is then fed back to the participant in real time, usually through auditory or visual feedback, allowing for monitoring and adjustment of the mental state.

In Mente, brainwave activity is only acquired by the electrodes in the Mente headband. Specialized software then processes the brain’s activity and delivers auditory stimulation that influences brainwave levels.

The auditory stimulation is represented by binaural beats which are ‘returned’ to the patient to induce the brain to work in a desirable pattern. Changes are short-lived at first, but then gradually become more enduring.

What are binaural beats or auditory stimulation?
The word binaural means “having or relating to two ears”. The sensation of auditory stimulation occurs when two sounds of nearly similar frequencies are presented one to each ear with stereo headphones or speakers. The brain integrates the two signals, producing a sensation of a third sound called the binaural beat or neurofeedback. Thus, if 210Hz pulses into one ear and 200Hz into the other, the brain will process the two sounds into a 10Hz frequency, namely the difference between the two frequencies.
The binaural beats then cause the brainwaves to begin resonating in tune with the beat. With Mente, auditory stimulation frequencies are produced according to the brainwave reading of the EEG.
By creating auditory stimulation at a particular frequency, the brain is triggered to resonate at that same frequency, automatically inducing brain activity in the respective waveform spectrum. To listen to a sample of the sound below:
Mente records different types of brain waves – can you tell me more about them?
Via sensors on the scalp, Mente records patterns of brain activity. The combination of electrical activity of the brain is commonly called a ‘brainwave pattern’ because of its cyclic ‘wave-like’ nature. These brainwaves are generally classified according to their frequency, amplitude and shape.
Among the basic waveforms are the alpha, beta, delta and theta rhythms. These basic rhythms are associated with different mental states.
Alpha waves occur at a frequency of 8 to 12 cycles per second in a regular rhythm. In general, they are present when you are awake, relaxed and have your eyes closed. Usually they disappear when you open your eyes or start mentally concentrating.
Beta waves occur at a frequency of 13 to 30 cycles per second. Normally beta rhythms occur in individuals who are alert and attentive to external stimuli or are exerting specific mental effort. Beta waves are also present during tension, agitation and anxiety.
Delta waves occur at a frequency of 0.5 to 3.5 cycles per second. They are generally prominent during sleep or when there is unconscious activity. As people move from lighter to deeper stages of sleep, the occurrence of alpha waves diminishes and is gradually replaced by the lower frequency delta waves.
Theta waves occur at a frequency of 4 to 8 cycles per second. This particular frequency range is involved in daydreaming and sleep. They are connection with feeling deep and raw emotions. Too much theta activity may make people prone to bouts of depression, ADHD and inattentiveness. Too little can lead to anxiety, poor emotional awareness and stress.
Does Mente interfere with other therapies?
No. Mente is non-invasive and each session trains the brain to become more focused and concentrated. Mente represents a complementary tool in clinical as well as educational settings, boosting treatment outcomes in a broad range of approaches.
Are there any side effects?
We have not come across patients who suffered from side effects as long as the device is used according to instructions in the User Manual.
What will Mente do with all the data it's collecting?
All data is stored in our secure Mente cloud system. Patients have full access to that data and the reports that are generated daily. All patient / medical data is stored separately from the customer’s personal data. For more information read our Privacy Policy.
What type of sensors are used?

Five top-of-the-line sensors are used to ensure optimum quality EEG acquisition. The sensors use the latest lower impedance electrodes and generate far less noise. The sensors have passed the ISO 10993-1 biocompatibility test.

Front sensor:
• Dry surface to user’s skin
• Consists of a conductive membrane behind which is electrode gel typically used in clinical EEG systems
• Cushioned sensor surface conforms to irregular body surfaces better than metal discs
• Low-noise conduction between body and sensor
• Stable Ag/AgCl Interface
• Impedance 10 – 100 K on unprepared skin

Back sensor:
• Novel shape optimized for hair penetration and scalp contact
• Special silver coating imparts optimal conductivity to the sensor’s surface for the best possible signal transduction
• Flexible material safely flattens under pressure – no hard metal pins
• Flexible legs slide under hair strands for scalp contact
• Impedance 100 – 2000 K on unprepared skin

Note about Flex sensors
The Flex sensor is designed so that its flexible legs will move through the hair to the scalp.
The Flex sensor is designed and structured so that the legs splay outward and can flatten against the head. However, it is never necessary to apply enough pressure to significantly flatten the sensors against the scalp.
They only need enough pressure so that their feet touch the scalp and resist sliding. More pressure than that only increases discomfort and reduces the effective life of the sensor.
It may help to wait one up to five minutes after the sensor is placed on the head before attempting further adjustment (to the headband) to allow the signal to stabilize. Electrode contact impedance drops dramatically after a few minutes on contact making it easier to work with.
It is never necessary to press hard or flatten the sensor on the scalp – this will not improve the signal, will be needlessly uncomfortable, and will prematurely wear down the sensor.

How can I ensure that the home-based therapy is functioning throughout the session?
Throughout the session, the Mente device constantly checks that each sensor is correctly positioned with optimal connection with the head. On the app, the parent or carer can view the status of each sensor. A warning is issued via the app if there is an issue and the session is paused until the sensors’ position is fixed. If Mente is not connected to a tablet or phone and a sensor is out of place, the session will stop and the LED light on the headband will turn orange. If this happens, parents / carers can reconnect to the app to check that all sensors are properly positioned. Parents /carers also have control over the volume of the device (sound check), battery monitoring and LED notifications which are fully explained in the User Manual.
Can we use headphones instead of the earphones supplied?
No. The patient must use the earphones provided in the product box.
Are there conditions where Mente’s auditory feedback is not advisable /suitable?
  • History of epilepsy and /or sporadic episodes of epileptic activity.
  • History of hearing impairments or sensory sensitivities
  • Psychiatric and neurological conditions such as Rett’s Syndrome, Fragile X Syndrome, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder (CDD), Bipolar/Psychotic disorders.

Mente is intended for children between the ages of 3 and 12 who are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

What is a QEEG and how will this help?
Quantitative EEG (qEEG) is a method of analysing the electrical activity of the brain (EEG) to identify patterns of which are commonly referred to as brainwaves.

The qEEG is an assessment tool that objectively and scientifically evaluates a patient’s brainwave function allowing to determine any abnormalities and pinpoint areas that need improvement in brain function. It can also help the identification of unbalanced patterns that can underlie attention, impulse control, learning, sensory processing, anger, emotional regulation, and behaviour problems.

qEEG can be interpreted and used as a clinical tool to evaluate and track the changes in brain function due to various interventions such as neurofeedback.

Mente is designed to reduce excessive activations of low- and high- frequency brainwaves, such a Delta and Beta which can be identified by the qEEG. The qEEG will provide also a starting reference, that thanks to this you would be able to measure the progress of the treatment.

How can my clinician help with Mente?
Mente system allows medical professionals to remotely monitor their patients, therefore your clinician can help you better understand and tracking progress. Your clinician can also advise regarding any medical condition or treatment your child may have.
Do you ship worldwide?
Yes, we offer free shipping worldwide. You will be provided with tracking information after placing an order. We ship from Europe and expect deliveries to take between 7-10 days.