That sudden jerk you sometimes experience when you “slip” in a dream while half asleep is .....

A hypnic jerk is an involuntary spasm or twitch of the muscles that literally jerks a person awake. It usually occurs in the lightest stages of sleep, often just as someone is falling asleep, but not always. The startling spasm also is called a hypnagogic massive jerk, amyoclonic jerk, or a sleep start. 

People often describe it as a falling sensation or an electric shock, and it is a common, completely normal experience. 


Commonly occurs when a person is sleeping in an uncomfortable position or is overtired. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine reports that up to 70% of people experience them when falling asleep..

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