Essay
This essay is a comparison of the main themes of three articles on sleep, being 'College students: getting enough sleep is vital to academic success' by the AASM, 'Why are we so sleep deprived, and why does it matter?' by Michael S. Jaffee, and 'Why our brain needs sleep, and what happens if we don't get enough of it', by Leonie Kirszenblat. The themes compared relate to background information on sleep, the importance and benefits of sleep, the impacts of sleep deprivation, and advice relating to improving sleep. This essay will compare and contrast the various themes of each three articles and summarize their main points.

Each article supplies varied background information to support their points on the importance of sleep. Both the articles by AASM and Jaffee references statistics showing a lack of sleep among particular demographics. AASM references research showing increased sleep deprivation among students, while Jaffee provides far more specific information, citing surveys showing 40% of American adults lack the right amount of sleep, as recommended by the Academy of Sleep Medicine and the National Sleep Foundation. Jaffee also references an estimate by the National Institute for Health that 50 to 70 million American adults lack proper sleep, and that on average they sleep considerably less than they did in the 1940s. Kirszenblat focuses on the scientific background, discussing the electrical activity of the brain and brain patterns She also defines REM sleep and slow-wave sleep, two sleep states which she references later in the article. Each article lays a foundation of background information, on which to further explain sleep’s importance.

The three articles impress the importance of sleep in different ways, but common in their sentiment overall. AASM focuses particularly on the importance of sleep for students, using the statements of medical professionals to make their point. AASM quotes Lawrence Epstein, MD, who states "Students getting adequate amounts of sleep performed better on memory and motor tasks than did students deprived of sleep." Epstein also states that cumulative sleep can have a negative effect on student performance. AASM then quotes Clete. A Kushida, MD, PhD, who adds that in the student demographic sleep's importance cannot be overstated. Jaffee and Kirszenblat are more general, and explore similar points on the effects of sleep on the brain. Both authors refer to the role of sleep in cleansing the brain of toxic proteins, and its links to Alzheimer's disease, but Jaffee focuses more on importance of sleep physically, referring to the body's immune system and metabolism. Kirszenblat delves more into the mental. She discusses the effect of sleep on the brain, and how proper sleep allows the mind to consolidate memories, and to 'clean the slate' of memories, so that one can absorb new information when awake. She emphasizes the importance of sleep by linking this process to the sleep schedules of children and infants, implying that they sleep longer than adults due to having to consolidate and process greater amounts of information. Even though each article makes it point in a distinct way, each shares a similar sentiment regarding sleep.

When explaining the impact of sleep deprivation, again the articles share a similar viewpoint, but in different areas. AASM stays with the topic relative to students, referencing studies that show strong ties between irregular or low-quality sleep and poor academic performance, and between insomnia and mental health problems.
Jaffee describes the impact of sleep deprivation in regard to general health. He cites studies linking lack of sleep to chronic health and mental conditions, and emphasizes the importance of sleep for the developing brains of children. Jaffee states that each of our biological systems is affected by sleep, and that a lack of sleep can have considerable consequences for the body and mind. Kirszenblat sticks to the mental, explaining the possible effects of a bad night's sleep on the brain. She explains lack of sleep can negatively affect attention spans, reaction times, and creativity. She also points to drowsiness as a leading cause of motor vehicle accidents and of fatal workplace accidents, noting that brain may shut down intermittently for those sleep-deprived. The authors all explain the serious consequences of sleep deprivation, but are distinct in their subject matter.

When discussing ways to improve sleep, the article by AASM is the most straightforward. At the end of the article it provides a checklist of methods to consider when striving for good quality sleep, pertaining to diet, sleep habits, and use of technology. Jaffee is more subtle, referencing the increase in formal 'sleep consultation' among professional athletes as evidence of how quality sleep is valued, and encourages the reader to adopt a similar attitude. Kirszenblat offers no direct advice, but enumerates the benefits of healthy sleep patterns for the brain. Though not all of the articles directly instruct the reader to improve their sleep, the overall tone encourages the reader to take sleep more seriously.

When compared to each other, the articles present a distinct but similar take on the subject of sleep. AASM focuses particularly on the plight of the sleep deprived student, citing statistics and suggesting ways for students to improve their sleep schedule. Jaffee elucidates all the negative effects of a lack of sleep, and though he offers no direct advice, it is implicit in his article that a lack of sleep can have serious repercussions. Kirszenblat's take is lighter than Jaffee, and gives us a more in-depth look at the brain and its processes, and why proper sleep is so beneficial. Though the articles have a contrasting approach to the subject, you can take from all of them the same point, whether you're a student, an adult, or child, quality sleep is vital.