Insomnia  

Anna Joyce

In the liminal space where senses slip
fragile memories fade at hippocampal doors
traces of day dissipate
as sleep eludes 
and needles creep closer to dawn
the neural symphony tunes its strings
preparing to synchronise oscillations
memories await spindles and rippled recitations
but Symphony Beta plays on. 

In that liminal space between wake and sleep 
fragile memories fade as I count sheep
and Symphony Beta plays on.

The Science

Sleep is involved in multiple physical and mental functions, including memory consolidation. Rhythmic, repetitive patterns of neural activity, known as oscillations, are slow and regular during sleep, whilst irregular high-frequency beta activity occurs during wake. During non-REM sleep, newly-learnt information is reactivated in the hippocampus and transferred to the neocortex for long-term storage via synchronised slow oscillations, thalamocortical sleep spindles, and hippocampal ripples. During REM sleep the neocortex appears to rehearse this new information, integrating it with existing knowledge and so strengthening the memory and protecting it from interference. This poem describes how the struggle of insomnia disrupts this process.

The Poet

Dr Anna Joyce (she/her) is an academic working in London, whose research focuses on the importance of sleep for cognition. Outside of work she enjoys poetry, playing piano, running and yoga. She lives in South London with her husband, two small children, and a little black cat. https://www.linkedin.com/in/drannajoyce/

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