Now, the question is – What is a hypnic jerk?
According to Wikipedia – A hypnic jerk, hypnagogic jerk, sleep start, sleep twitch or night start, is an involuntary twitch which occurs just as a person is beginning to fall asleep, often causing them to awaken suddenly for a moment.
With hypnagogic jerks, you might act out a dream like falling off a cliff, falling from the sky, or tripping.
Now, moving to its causes – What causes hypnic jerks?
No one knows exactly what causes them. Naturally, there are some theories.
Scientists say that it is more likely to happen when you’re overtired, sleep-deprived, or stressed. Your brain enters into sleep cycles more aggressively, but your body hasn’t caught up.
Another theory suggests that they’re a result of the natural downshifting of the nervous system that occurs as you’re falling asleep.
