The Star-Splitter Sleep Lab

In The Star-Splitter Sleep Lab, we learned the neurochemistry of sleep, the prominent theories regarding dreams, and the methods and findings of a number of leading studies in the field of sleep science—including one that was published during our deep-dive. The Star-Splitters learned how to read a scientific paper so that they could begin to have the confidence and tools necessary to interpret data for themselves.

Liminal Nouns

In the Star-Splitters' Sleep lab, students not only learned the neurochemistry of sleep and prominent theories about the phenomenon of dream life, they also sought to make something of their questions and understanding. In one weekly exercise, students wrote down ten concrete nouns immediately upon waking and then created something of some or all of those nouns--a poem, a story, a piece of visual art--within the liminal space between dreaming and wakefulness. Here is a selection of those works.

In our final week of sleep studies, we altered the exercise. Instead of creating something from their own list of concrete nouns composed upon waking, students were given another student’s list (anonymously). The works were then made into postcards, which were mailed to the original dreamer.

Music and Poetry

The Star-Splitters' Sleep Lab: Even as students are learning how to read the research in the science of sleep, they are learning what liberal artists of all kinds—poets and composers, as well as scientists—have made of their questions and explorations into the mysteries of sleep, including Gregory Orr and Max Richter.
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