Hypnic jerk
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It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Hypnagogia. (Discuss) |
A hypnic or hypnagogic jerk is an involuntary muscle twitch (commonly known as a myoclonic twitch) which occurs during the transition into hypnagogia. It is often described as an electric shock or falling sensation, and can cause movement of the body in bed. Hypnic jerks are experienced by most people, especially when exhausted or sleeping uncomfortably.
Occurrence
Hypnic jerks are usually felt once or twice per night. More regular, and usually less intense, hypnic jerks often occur during normal sleep. In extreme cases, this may be classified as a disorder called periodic limb movement. The person with the disorder will usually sleep through the events.
When a subject is deprived of sleep and is trying to fight sleep, hypnic jerks can occur more often. This normally happens to subjects who have deprived themselves of sleep for longer than 24 hours, or to those who have recently woken up from insufficient amounts of sleep.
See also
External links
Articles on Sleep | |
|---|---|
| Sleep Stages | Rapid eye movement sleep • Beta wave sleep • Gamma wave sleep • Non-rapid eye movement sleep • Slow-wave sleep • Theta wave sleep • Delta wave sleep |
| Sleep disorders | Sleep deprivation • Insomnia • Parasomnia • Sleepwalking • Sleeptalking • Night terror • Dyssomnia • Hypersomnia • Narcolepsy • Sleep apnea • Ondine's curse • Nocturnal myoclonus • Circadian rhythm sleep disorder • Nocturia • Automatic behavior • Sleeping sickness |
| Benign Phenomena | Dream • Nightmare • Exploding head syndrome • Lucid dream • False awakening • Sleep paralysis • Hypnagogia • Hypnic jerk • Nocturnal emission • Somnolence |
| Other Sleep-related Topics | Bed bug • Sleep and learning • Snoring • Jet lag • Sleep debt • Power nap • Polyphasic sleep • Siesta • Bedtime • Bedtime story |
Acknowledgement and Attribution Regarding Sources of Content
Some of the initial content on this page may be incorporated in part from copyleft sources in the public domain including wikis such as Wikipedia and AskDrWiki. Drug information for patients came from the The National Library of Medicine. Infectious disease information may have come from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Differential Diagnoses are drawn from clinicians as well as an amalgamation of 3 sources: 1.The Disease Database; 2. Kahan, Scott, Smith, Ellen G. In A Page: Signs and Symptoms. Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishing, 2004:3; 3. Sailer, Christian, Wasner, Susanne. Differential Diagnosis Pocket. Hermosa Beach, CA: Borm Bruckmeir Publishing LLC, 2002:7 .
