what is that sudden jerk or spasm u get as you fall to sleep called? Why does it happen?

Question

I get once in a while not often - it wakes you for a second and then you're fast asleep shortly after. What's the purpose of it?

Answer 1

it's called a myoclonic jerk.

It's thought to happen because as you fall asleep your brain is sometimes fooled into thinking you are dying so sends a shock to jerk you awake.

Answer 2

That always happens to me! Some ppl say its missing a beat in your heart, but i recon its more along the lines of this. When you've been moving about all day, ur body is suddenly really still and calm, so it gets abit confused and tends to react as a jerk! My answer isnt
correct, its just my hypothesis! When it happens to me, before it hasppens i am still partly awake and i seem to miss a step on some stairs in my mind!

Answer 3

This theory says that, as you slide toward sleep, there's a point at which your muscles really let go. Your brain, which after all did evolve from a reptile brain, interprets this rush of relaxation data as a sure sign that you're falling down. And it tells your arms and legs to thrash around and keep you upright -- which, of course, you're not. So your misguided body slugs your sweetheart in the solar plexus. It called a hypnic jerk.

Answer 4

for me, it always happens when I have a dream that I'm tripping. It's because in my dream, I imagine myself tripping so I jerk myself up to keep from falling... but I'm still partly awake so I actually jerk myself which wakes me up. I don't know what it's called or why it happens scientifically, though, and I'd be curious to know that too.

Answer 5

I get this mostly when waking up, don't think ive ever had it falling asleep! It mostly feels good, like surge of energy, I sometime get it when awake to! Idon't know what it is but think its just a natural thing.

Answer 6

My husband gets this alot, and he actually acts out his dreams, like hitting out- which can be scary as you can imagine. It's called REM sleep disorder behaviour if you have it quite badly, and it means that your body hasn't released the paralysis chemicals it's supposed to during sleep, so that you don't act things out ( a bit like sleep walking). There is medication you can take which stops this and it's called Clonazepam :)

Answer 7

Dont know what its called but at least twice i've whacked myself in the face while fallin asleep. Always happens when i've been doin bicep curls and hurts like H*ll

Answer 8

My friend researched this and this is what she came up w/ and an answer that maked sense to me .. it that
you are laying so still that your mind thinks you are paralyzed so to check all systems go , your brain sends out this dream to make you shake and reads the bio-feed back.
you are NOT paralyzed.

Answer 9

It's called a hypnic jerk.

Please read this well-written article, you will learn all you need to know :)

Answer 10

Apparently, it is your soul, or spirit, returning to your body after a spot of astral travel. My 10 year old told me that when she was four. She can do it when she's wide awake! Scary, or what?