During the transition into stage-1 sleep, it is common to experience hypnic jerks.

People normally experience hypnic jerks moments before the first stage of sleep.

See also Hypnic jerk, which is not a disorder.

However, most hypnic jerks occur essentially randomly in healthy people.

Most assume the hypnic jerks occur because the body begins relaxing.

The most common circumstance under which they occur is while falling asleep (hypnic jerk).

About 70% of people have experienced hypnic jerk.

Most of us have experienced “jumping legs” that can happen as we nod off (the medical term is hypnic jerks) and these are quite normal.

Hypnic jerks are most common in children, when dreams are considered the most simple.

The sudden startled arm-jerking response sometimes experienced when on the verge of sleeping is known as the hypnic jerk.

Sudden twitches and hypnic jerks, also known as positive myoclonus, may be associated with the onset of sleep during N1.

In humans, vestigial responses include ear perking, goose bumps and the hypnic jerk.

Familiar examples of normal myoclonus include hiccups and hypnic jerks that some people experience while drifting off to sleep.

Kohler says if hypnic jerks inhibit sleep, a person should consult a sleep medicine doctor.

My sleep is kinetic and there's the serious risk I might inadvertently impale my sleeping partner with a hypnic jerk.

A hypnic jerk is the feeling triggered by a sudden muscle twitch, causing the feeling of falling while sleeping or dreaming.

In the early stages of sleep, a falling sensation may be perceived in connection with a hypnic jerk, sometimes awaking the sleeper abruptly.

Hypnic jerk, also called a hypnagogic jerk, is a normal reaction that can be caused by anxiety, caffeine, a dream, or discomfort of sleeping.

Perhaps the most common experience of this kind is the falling sensation, and associated hypnic jerk, encountered by many people, at least occasionally, while drifting off to sleep.

Hypnic jerks are associated with a rapid heartbeat, quickened breathing, sweat, and sometimes "a peculiar sensory feeling of 'shock' or 'falling into the void.'"

Hypnic jerks are myoclonus twitches, or involuntary muscle spasms, but sleep starts occur during hypnagogia, the stage when the body is falling asleep.

“Some people think [hypnic jerks] might be associated with anxiety and stress or with unusual or irregular sleep schedules.

(Can seem like hypnic jerk, but hypnic jerk is not a disorder.)

Effects experienced with the use of oneirogens may include microsleep, hypnagogia, fugue states, rapid eye movement sleep (REM), hypnic jerks, lucid dreams, and out-of-body experiences.

According to Marianne Middleton, clinical coordinator at the Lawrence Memorial Hospital Sleep Disorders Center, hypnic jerks can lead to a vicious circle.