A hypnic or hypnagogic jerk is an involuntary muscle twitch (more generally known as myoclonus or a myoclonic twitch) which often occurs during the transition from wakefulness to sleep (see hypnagogia). It is often described as an electric shock or falling sensation, and can cause movement of the body in bed. Hypnic jerks are completely normal, and are experienced by most people, especially when over-tired or sleeping uncomfortably. The exact cause of the sudden jerks is not clear, but there are hypotheses: Myoclonus is brief, involuntary twitching of a muscle or a group of muscles. ... A myoclonic twitch or hypnagogic myoclonus consists of one or more sudden full-body twitches, and often preceded by a sensation and/or dream of falling. ... Hypnagogia (also spelled hypnogogia) and hypnopompia are experiences a person can go through when falling asleep in the case of hypnagogia, or waking up, in the case of hypnopompia. ... Sign warning of possible electric shock hazard An electric shock can occur upon contact of a human or animal body with any source of voltage high enough to cause sufficient current flow through the muscles or nerves. ...
That the feelings associated with relaxation before sleep are misinterpreted by the brain as falling or toppling over, and by reflex the body jerks out the limbs to stay upright.
That in the same way a body will often twitch as a person dies (as a reflex to attempt to keep the body functioning) it is thought the body might misinterpret falling asleep as a situation in which the body needs to be stimulated.
Hypnic jerks are usually felt just once or twice per night. More regular (and usually less dramatic) muscle twitches often occur during normal sleep (perhaps as much as one every thirty seconds). In extreme cases, this may be classified as a disorder called periodic limb movement. The person with the disorder will usually sleep through the events. When a subject is deprived of sleep and is trying to fight sleep, hypnic jerks can occur more often. This normally happens after the subject has successfully deprived themselves of sleep for longer than 24 hours. A bed, blankets, pillows, and pyjamas are all traditionally associated with sleep Sleep is the regular state of natural rest observed in all mammals, birds, and fish. ... For the play Breath by Samuel Beckett, see Breath (play). ... Thermoregulation is the ability of an organism to keep its body temperature within certain boundaries, even when temperature surrounding is very different. ... The word relaxation can mean the following: The opposite of stress or tension; the aim of recreation and leisure activities. ... A reflex action or reflex is a biological control system linking stimulus to response and mediated by a reflex arc. ... Wittmaack-Ekbom or restless legs syndrome is a disorder of the nervous system that affects sensation and movement in the legs and causes the limbs to feel uncomfortable. ...
some also belive and know this instance as "Jimmy Legs"
A hypnic or hypnagogic jerk is an involuntary muscle twitch (more generally known as myoclonus or a myoclonic twitch) which often occurs during the transition from wakefulness to sleep (see hypnagogia).
Hypnicjerks are completely normal, and are experienced by most people, especially when over-tired or sleeping uncomfortably.
Hypnicjerks are usually felt just once or twice per night.
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