A hypnic jerk, also known as a sleep start, is a brief, involuntary muscle contraction that occurs as a person transitions from wakefulness to sleep. This phenomenon is common, affecting a large percentage of the population. Researchers believe these jerks may be caused by a stray motor signal that slips through before full muscle inhibition sets in during the handover between wakefulness and sleep-promoting brain circuits. The sensation of falling often associated with hypnic jerks is thought to be a narrative constructed by the brain to explain the sudden motor event. AI
RANK_REASON Article explains a biological phenomenon without new research or a specific event.
- Forbes
- Jason Ellis
- Northumbria University
- Proceedings of the Royal Society B
- Richard Lewontin
- Sleep Medicine
- Stephen Jay Gould
- The Conversation
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