Mark1984_SRI
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Registered: 7th Feb 06
Location: Preston
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Is there a medical term for that jump that you do when you're nodding off to sleep. Ususally imagine your falling off a kerb or something then BAM... you do this kind of weird jitter and it wakes you up. My girlfriend did it lastnight in bed and i know i've done it before. What is it ? and why do we do it from time to time? Anyone else done it??? It feels like the same kind of reaction as to when someone startles you by Shouting boo when you leat expect it. (That's the best way of describing it) 
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Melville
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Registered: 4th Jun 03
Location: Newcastle upon Tyne
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Its something to do with your brain shutting down but your body not. I saw a program on it once but cant remember much of it now unforunatley.
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Jamie Walby
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Registered: 15th Nov 04
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I have always wondered about that too.
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Jodi_the_g
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Registered: 7th Aug 01
Location: Washington D.C
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Its called 'microsleep'
Happens for a number of reasons, overtiredness, mental fatiuge, which is often why you some times get it after motorway driving with nothing much happening.
[Edited on 20-04-2006 by Jodi_the_g]
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Mark1984_SRI
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Registered: 7th Feb 06
Location: Preston
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Is it always associated with falling when your semi conscious? I always fall off a kerb What's everyone else do?
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Jodi_the_g
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Registered: 7th Aug 01
Location: Washington D.C
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sort of your brain enters a state of sleep for a few seconds up to a minitue reguardless of your body still being active.
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Lynny
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Registered: 3rd Jan 03
Location: oop north! Where people talk properly
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quote:
Originally posted by Mark1984_SRI
Is it always associated with falling when your semi conscious? I always fall off a kerb What's everyone else do?
its always a kerb for me too
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Jamie Walby
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Registered: 15th Nov 04
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I have fallen off a kerb and tripped over walls, fallen off stools
[Edited on 20-04-2006 by Jamie Walby]
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Dom
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Registered: 13th Sep 03
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i get this aswell...usually im falling out of things though 
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Dean_W
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Registered: 13th Dec 05
Location: Downham Market, Norfolk
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I fell off a cliff once, woke up just before i hit a rock at the bottom.
Scared me shootless, didn't sleep all night.
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Dom
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Registered: 13th Sep 03
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quote:
Originally posted by Dean_W
I fell off a cliff once, woke up just before i hit a rock at the bottom.
Scared me shootless, didn't sleep all night.
ive fallen out of sky scrappers, that seems to go on for hours....but that was when i was younger 
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Edd
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Registered: 8th Nov 04
Location: Glasgow
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the medical term is "falling asleep"
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ssj_kakarot
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Registered: 29th Apr 03
Location: hartlepool
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Hypnic jerk
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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A hypnic or hypnagogic jerk is an involuntary muscle twitch (more generally known as myoclonus or a myoclonic twitch) which often occurs during the transition from wakefulness to sleep (see hypnagogia). It is often described as an electric shock or falling sensation, and can cause movement of the body in bed. Hypnic jerks are completely normal, and are experienced by most people, especially when over-tired or sleeping uncomfortably. The exact cause of the sudden jerks is not clear, but there are hypotheses:
1. That it is a naturally occurring part of the sleep process, as is slower breathing, and reduced body temperature.
2. That the feelings associated with relaxation before sleep are misinterpreted by the brain as falling or toppling over, and by reflex the body jerks out the limbs to stay upright.
3. That in the same way a body will often twitch as a person dies (as a reflex to attempt to keep the body functioning) it is thought the body might misinterpret falling asleep as a situation in which the body needs to be stimulated.
Hypnic jerks are usually felt just once or twice per night. More regular (and usually less dramatic) muscle twitches often occur during normal sleep (perhaps as much as one every thirty seconds). 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 after the subject has successfully deprived themselves of sleep for longer than 24 hours.
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Scotty C
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Registered: 6th Nov 05
Location: Kidderminster Drives: 1.6 16v Sport
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i get it sometimes! mine isnt falling off a kerb tho, im stood in the middle of a country lane, and a car nearly runs me over! nearly fall off the bed it made me jump that bad
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Liam
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Registered: 19th Jan 06
Location: Stafford
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I get it sometimes aswell usually falling down holes or off chairs and all sorts, its really wierd, i dont think ive everwalked into things usually just falling 
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