hypnic jerk
Falling asleep startle
A hypnic jerk is the sudden, involuntary muscle twitch that sometimes happens as you're falling asleep—the sensation of tripping or falling that jolts you awake.
Also called a sleep start or hypnagogic jerk.
The experience is common and harmless, though it can be startling: I was just drifting off when a hypnic jerk woke me up.
- startleFrighten suddenly
- startle reflexInvoluntary reaction to sudden stimuli
- myoclonusSudden brief muscle jerks
- drifting offGradually entering sleep
- twitchInvoluntary muscular jerk
muscle twitch · spasm · parasomnia · involuntary · convulsion · jolt · flinch · drowsiness · fall · sleep · slumber · bedtime · dreams · threshold · non-REM sleep · falling sensation · awakening · kick
hypnic jerksleep paralysis
Temporary waking immobility
muscle relaxation · stillness · cataplexy · paralysis · immobility
jerk, hypnotize, hypnotized, hypnosis, hypnotist, hypnotism, hypnotizing, hypnotists, hypnobirthing