Scientific/psychology-type question

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

Okay....

You know, when you're lying in bed, and you're just dropping off to sleep, and you get this total-body spasm that makes you feel like you're falling into the mattress or something? What's that called and what causes it?

It was explained to me in a high-school psychology class. I promptly forgot all about it. Now for some reason I'm wondering what that is again.

[dalesys]

Monsters under the bed tickling!




Myoclonic jerk.

[Lachrymose]

Myoclonic jerk.

You gonna take this kind of talk, Irv?

[Mikkel]

Hypnic jerk.

Isn't it wonderful to use those insulting sounding terms .

[JustaCashier]

Yeah!

C'mon dale, Irv was just asking for a little help!

I occasionally get that. Also, sometimes as I'm just dropping off, and I think more often than the falling feeling, I get this audio sensation that something heavy is slamming, like maybe one of those big steel plates they use to temporarily cover holes in the street, being heavily slammed down on another steel plate, and that similarly jolts me awake.


Mike

[Ree]

You gonna take this kind of talk, Irv?

Is it funny that I was thinking the same thing?

Was gonna say, "dalesys, Irv was just asking a question. There was no need for name calling."

[chrislb]

I usually don't spasm before I fall asleep. when I wake up I do strangely enough. I get all tingly kind of like the electricity in my body is leaving me when I go to sleep. I don't know why.

[blas]

I experience this....mini dreams, and they always involve tripping or falling, that are the cause of the spasms, I think.

[Ratha]

I occasionally get that. Also, sometimes as I'm just dropping off, and I think more often than the falling feeling, I get this audio sensation that something heavy is slamming, like maybe one of those big steel plates they use to temporarily cover holes in the street, being heavily slammed down on another steel plate, and that similarly jolts me awake.

That's called "exploding head syndrome." I get that sometimes. It can be annoying when it happens right as I'm falling asleep, but most of the time I think it's funny. XD

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

Monsters under the bed tickling!

MY MOMMY AND DADDY LIED TO ME!

*turns on all his lights and hides in closet.

[TheSHAD0W]

That's called "exploding head syndrome." I get that sometimes. It can be annoying when it happens right as I'm falling asleep, but most of the time I think it's funny. XD

I get that too sometimes, and it's almost always when I stack up too many pillows and try to sleep that way. I'm going to guess it has to do with either respiration or blood flow.