You wake up in the middle of the night, almost jumping out of bed because you feel like you’re falling off into space. You feel a jolt, but you’re not sure what happened. If any of this sounds familiar, don’t worry; you’ve probably just experienced a hypnagogic or hypnic jerk.
So, if you’re reading this because you were awakened in the middle of the night by a hypnic jerk, FILLING will explain what it is and its possible causes.
Hypnic jerks and the feeling of falling
When we fall asleep, our consciousness leaves our bodies, and our brain begins to function differently than when we are awake. A condition known as hypnic jerking can occur during the transition from wakefulness to sleep. A hypnic jerk is a sudden movement that resembles a twitch, the sensation we get when something unexpectedly scares us.
This strange movement is caused by a myoclonic spasm, which is defined as a sudden and involuntary twitch of a muscle or group of muscles that can occur alone or in sequence, with or without a pattern. Hiccups, for example, are a common type of myoclonic spasm.
Hypnic jerks are usually characterized by a single contraction and are associated with a falling sensation, the start of a dream (either visual or auditory), or a vivid hypnagogic hallucination (produced when the person is falling asleep).
What causes that feeling
Hypnic jerks typically occur as a person is falling asleep. It is common for these twitches to cause confusion about when sleep begins and whether or not we are dreaming. Although the cause is unclear and information is scarce, scientists believe the following are possible explanations:
- Exercising too close to bedtime can overstimulate your body and make it difficult to fall asleep quickly.
- Anxiety and stress: Going to bed worried can keep your brain active longer than necessary, causing it to send warning signals even while your body is sleeping.
- Caffeine and other stimulants: These and other stimulant products interfere with the body’s ability to sleep naturally and deeply.
- Sleep deprivation: These spasms may also be caused by other sleep disorders or poor sleeping habits.
In addition to these potential causes, there is an intriguing evolutionary theory that explains why hypnic jerks occur. According to research from the University of Colorado, these jerks could be an archaic reflex that occurs when the brain misinterprets the natural relaxation of the muscles during sleep as a risk of falling from the tree where our ancestors used to sleep.
Have you ever had the sensation of collapsing while sleeping? What other strange dreams have you had while sleeping? Do you enjoy that sensation, or does it bother you?