Have you ever wondered what goes on inside your head when you’re sleeping?

This mock 3D editorial journal cover is meant to serve as the cover page of a journal publication editorializing a scientific article topic. With the audience being those within the field of science, this journal cover was meant to illustrate a recent study that shed light onto the mechanism behind cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) movement through the brain during REM sleep. This important process is known to help “clear” out unwanted metabolites in neurons accumulated throughout the day and has potential implications on the development of neurodegenerative disorders.

I wanted to communicate this idea that the brain is “washing itself” during sleep through a whimsical, yet literal way. By showing tiny “janitors” cleaning the brain of a person fast asleep, this presents the complex science in a friendly and thought-provoking way in order to pique reader interest.