Scientists have named the sensation a ‘hypnic jerk,’ and while it feels kinda strange, it’s defs normal. Basically, it’s an involuntary muscle twitch that happens to our arms, legs or torso and according to higherperspectives.com it can be caused by a few diff factors.
"Researchers think that a few external causes, like caffeine and tobacco, might increase how often the hypnic jerk happens to you.”
But while it probs seems easy to stay away from any stimulants like these pre-bedtime, turns out it won’t necessarily guarantee a twitch-free slumber. In fact, one of the researchers behind the study reckons it could actually be your sleeping pattern that’s to blame.
"The hypnic jerk is most often seen when a person falls asleep rapidly, during, or after they've been in an exhaustive state,” the research explains.
“When the body is really exhausted the brain will process stages of sleep too quickly, confusing itself into thinking that the body and its major systems are failing. It responds by jolting you awake with a burst of chemicals, one that the brain might interpret, and then build a dream designed to wake you up, which is the basic premise behind the theory of the hypnic jerk!”
Ah the human body, eh?! Pretty g-damn great if we do say so ourselves!