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...does your body ever jump?! Mine does sometimes, jolts and wakes me up just after I've nodded off...anyone know why this is or what causes it? Or am I the only one it happens to lol

2006-11-25 10:43:21 · 18 answers · asked by pianowez 3 in Health Other - Health

18 answers

It's called a 'hypnic jerk' and is fairly common. It's one way - when watching someone - to know that they aren't faking 'falling asleep. Science has given it a name but doesn't have a perfectly adequate explanation for it. My theory is that it is the moment in time when the brain 'lets go' of control of the muscles and stops most input from the nerves around the body (touch and heat/cold senses). If the link between the brain and muscles wasn't 'broken' then (a) there'd be too much feedback for the brain to have a chance to relax, and (b) you'd run the risk of the muscles interpreting dreams as instructions to 'act'. It'd be an interesting study to see if habitual sleepwalkers ever get hypnic jerks, and whether people with pronounced hypnic jerks sleep better.

2006-11-25 11:03:42 · answer #1 · answered by nandadevi9 3 · 1 0

Yes its like falling out of bed without moving! Wake up with fast heartbeat and everything.

Not the same thing, but I woke up with a jolt this morning. I looked at the clock seeing that it was 6.07am I jumped out of bed and ran downstairs in a panic as I was late for work. As I flicked the Kettle on I woke up fully and suddenly realised that it was Saturday! (No Work) I went back to bed P1ssed off as the wife was laughing at me!

2006-11-25 11:03:11 · answer #2 · answered by WavyD 4 · 0 0

Just like a previous poster, I never did it then when I met my girlfriend and she started I didn't know what to to - I thought she was having some sort of fit. Since then I've been doing it subconciously and it sometimes wakes me up. Having said that, I talk in my sleep and I sometimes wake myself up by doing that.

2006-11-25 10:54:59 · answer #3 · answered by fozmonkey 2 · 0 0

No you are not the only one. Many people do it. My husband does it all the time.

Myoclonus is the scientific name for it. It refers to sudden, involuntary jerking of a muscle or group of muscles.

This site explains it.

2006-11-25 10:55:30 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1 0

No - it happens to me as well and its quite scary - dont know what causes it though. I thought it was maybe that I am just about to go into the second stage of sleep - like a deeper sleep - and something stops me. xxx

2006-11-25 10:46:23 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

It happens to me too. Sometimes when I'm awake also. Maybe it just happens to great looking guys like us. Lol.

2006-11-25 12:13:42 · answer #6 · answered by Unshaken Faith 4 · 0 0

It is normal it is just your body's way of relaxing I get it to and it always seems to be a daydream (night dream) like falling off of something or slipping

2006-11-25 10:47:49 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

Happens to many, many people. your muscles are relaxing, & they jump & spasm as they relax. Sounds weird; I know. My wife jerks all the time as she drifts off.
You're normal. You may try taking a calcium/magnesium supplement before bedtime to help stop it if it bothers you.

2006-11-25 10:45:53 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

My boyfriend does that all the time,the first time he did it I couldn't help it and burst out laughing it was so funny,now tho it seems to have rubbed off on to me and l do it all the time,wierd or what,always makes me giggle out loud to!!tee hee hee!

2006-11-25 10:50:04 · answer #9 · answered by Jacqui 2 · 0 0

I walk in my sleep and yes i jerk too. I was once hypnotized at a function. If felt just about the same.

2006-11-25 11:10:35 · answer #10 · answered by jane50071 2 · 0 0

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