A researcher at the University of Colorado suggested that a hypnic jerk could be 'an archaic reflex to the brain's misinterpretation of muscle relaxation with the onset of sleep as a signal that a sleeping primate is falling out of a tree. As a consequence, it causes a jerk to wake the sleeper up so they can catch themselves. Another theory postulates that the body mistakes the sense of relaxation that is felt when falling asleep as a sign that the body is falling. One hypothesis posits that the hypnic jerk is a form of reflex, initiated in response to normal bodily events during the lead-up to the first stages of sleep, including a decrease in blood pressure and the relaxation of muscle tissue. None of the several theories that have attempted to explain it has been fully accepted. Scientists do not know exactly why this phenomenon occurs and are still trying to understand it. This phenomenon can therefore be distinguished from other more serious conditions. In addition, unlike seizures, there are no tongue bites, urinary incontinence and postictal confusion in hypnic jerk. This physiological phenomenon can also be mistaken for myoclonic seizure, but it can also be distinguished by different criteria such as the fact that hypnic jerk occurs at sleep onset only or that the EEG is normal and constant. Also, other pertinent history allows to differentiate it. For example, the occurrence of hypnic jerk arises only at sleep onset and it happens without any rhythmicity or periodicity of the movements and EMG bursts. But some phenomena can help to distinguish hypnic jerk from these other conditions. For example, hypnic jerks can be confused with restless leg syndrome, periodic limb movement disorder, hypnagogic foot tremor, rhythmic movement disorder, and hereditary or essential startle syndrome, including the hyperplexia syndrome. Sometimes, hypnic jerks are mistaken for another form of movement during sleep. Nevertheless, these repeated, intensifying twitches can cause anxiety in some individuals and a disruption to their sleep onset. However, most hypnic jerks occur essentially at random in healthy people. It also may be facilitated by fatigue or sleep deprivation. Causes Īccording to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), there is a wide range of potential causes, including anxiety, stimulants like caffeine and nicotine, stress, and strenuous activities in the evening. They are benign and do not cause any neurological sequelae. Around 70% of people experience them at least once in their lives with 10% experiencing them daily. Hypnic jerks are common physiological phenomena. When they are particularly frequent and severe, hypnic jerks have been reported as a cause of sleep-onset insomnia. Men have also been known to experience this at a higher rate than women. A higher occurrence is reported in people with irregular sleep schedules. It can also be accompanied by a vivid dream experience or hallucination. Hypnic jerks are associated with a rapid heartbeat, quickened breathing, sweat, and sometimes 'a peculiar sensory feeling of 'shock' or 'falling into the void''. Physically, hypnic jerks resemble the 'jump' experienced by a person when startled, sometimes accompanied by a falling sensation. Hypnic jerks are one form of involuntary muscle twitches called myoclonus. Random involuntary muscle contraction of unknown causation without pathology plus possibly associated with fatigue, sleep deprivation, caffeine, anxietyĪ hypnic jerk, hypnagogic jerk, sleep start, sleep twitch, myoclonic jerk, or night start is a brief and sudden involuntary contraction of the muscles of the body which occurs when a person is beginning to fall asleep, often causing the person to jump and awaken suddenly for a moment. Myoclonic jerk, hypnagogic jerk, sleep start, sleep twitch, night start

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