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One of the most peculiar sensations you might encounter while trying to drift off to sleep is the feeling of suddenly plummeting. Just as you begin to relax, a jolt surges through your body, making it feel as if you’re in freefall. Your stomach flips, and your limbs may jerk or thrash involuntarily. This abrupt awakening can erase any sense of calm you’ve just achieved, leaving you bewildered or even frustrated—and chances are, this isn’t the first time you’ve experienced it. Fortunately, you’re not alone in this phenomenon.
Research indicates that approximately 70 percent of individuals will encounter hypnic jerks at least once throughout their lives, with around 10 percent experiencing them regularly—often referred to as hypnagogic jerks due to their occurrence during the transition into sleep. Despite being a common experience documented for decades, scientists have yet to reach a consensus on what triggers these peculiar occurrences often labeled as “sleep starts.”
“Hypnic jerks are an intriguing aspect of sleep; however, further research is essential for understanding their physiological basis and origins,” state the authors of a 2018 study published in Current Sleep Medicine Reports. Even after six years since that assertion was made, experts still share similar sentiments.
“I don’t have any solid explanation for why they occur,” remarks Allen Richert, an associate professor specializing in psychiatry and head of sleep medicine at the University of Mississippi Medical Center’s Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior. “These movements are organized muscle actions requiring communication from the central nervous system; however, pinpointing what triggers them remains elusive.”
There are some established facts about hypnic jerks worth noting: experts classify these movements as myoclonus or myoclonic jerks—uncontrollable muscle contractions akin to hiccups or seizures—but experiencing such jolts upon falling asleep does not necessitate medical intervention.
“We don’t consider it a pathological issue; rather it’s a normal occurrence,” Richert clarifies. “It’s certainly not indicative of any sleep disorder requiring treatment nor does it suggest underlying conditions like seizures or movement disorders.”
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) provides various potential explanations for individual experiences with hypnagogic jerks; however, these reasons span such a wide range that they offer little clarity on specific causes. Factors like high caffeine consumption or excessive stress could trigger these sensations just as easily as intense physical activity or lack of adequate rest could.
“That’s what makes this so fascinating,” Richert notes. “Often we think that depriving oneself from sleep leads to certain consequences; yet… there’s no evidence suggesting that getting more rest alleviates them nor that insufficient rest exacerbates them.”
Nonetheless, numerous researchers have proposed theories regarding hypnic jerks’ origins: one group suggests they may occur when decreasing blood pressure combined with muscle relaxation causes misfiring signals in the brain leading it into panic mode momentarily while others theorize our brains instinctively react under the impression we might be falling from heights—as some primate ancestors likely did.
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Richert also mentions he is unaware if specific medications or lifestyle changes can definitively influence how often someone experiences these jolts during slumber onset but recommends adhering to classic pre-bedtime practices: limit caffeine intake before bedtime hours and work towards reducing stress levels while ensuring sufficient overall rest.
As long as hypnic jerks—or concerns surrounding them—aren’t adversely affecting your daily life quality according to Richert and other specialists there is no need for medical evaluation at this time; thus far they remain another enigmatic evolutionary trait inherent within humanity—but certainly not something worth losing precious sleep over.
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The post What causes you to jolt awake right before falling asleep? appeared first on Popular Science.
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