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A member asked:
What do you call that weird spasm you sometimes get when you are just about to go to sleep?
4 doctors weighed in across 2 answers
Spasm: Activation of the reticular activating system in the brain. This is the switch from wake to sleep that oftens causes a big jerk to occur in the muscle system.
Answered 12/1/2011
6.2k views
Hypnagogic jerk: The name of that spasm or full body muscle contraction is a hypnagogic jerk. Other terms include hypnic jerk, hypnagogic jerk, sleep start, sleep twitch, myoclonic jerk, or a night start. This is an involuntary twitch which occurs when a person is beginning to fall asleep, often causing the person to jump and awaken suddenly for a moment.
Answered 1/6/2019
230 views
Related Questions
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I haven't slept all night because my hands won't stop spasming. Right when I'm fixing to sleep, they start spasming. I can't take it anymore!!
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