DeepSummary
The episode begins with Globi the nightlight explaining that some people experience a jolt or involuntary muscle twitch just as they are falling asleep, known as hypnic myoclonus or 'sleep starts'. Chris Winter, a neurologist and sleep specialist, is then interviewed to provide more details on this phenomenon.
Winter explains that hypnic myoclonus is a perfectly natural occurrence during the transition from wakefulness to sleep, likening it to the shuddering of a car when its gears are ground during shifting. It tends to happen more when people are not getting enough sleep or when their sleep is disturbed by factors like stress or a busy schedule.
Winter notes that the jolts typically only happen right as someone is initially falling asleep, not throughout the night. He says they are sometimes accompanied by a dream, such as feeling like you are falling down stairs. While common, they are not a cause for concern.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Hypnic myoclonus, or 'sleep starts', are brief involuntary muscle twitches that some people experience as they are initially falling asleep.
- Sleep starts are considered a natural, harmless part of the transition from wakefulness to sleep.
- They tend to occur more frequently when someone is overtired or not getting enough sleep.
- Sleep starts happen only in the beginning stage of falling asleep, not throughout the night.
- They are sometimes accompanied by a dream sensation, often of falling or stumbling.
- While common, sleep starts are not a cause for concern and do not necessarily indicate any sleep disorder or underlying condition.
- A neurologist provides the medical term 'hypnic myoclonus' and an explanation for what causes these 'sleep start' jolts.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “You can kind of think of a sleep start like that. These little mic clonic jerks tend to happen more when we're either not getting enough sleep or something's disturbing sleep.“ by Chris Winter
- “If you're having jerking throughout the night, it's probably something totally different.“ by Chris Winter
Entities
Company
Show
Person
Episode Information
Moment of Um
American Public Media
6/24/24
Have you ever started to fall asleep and then suddenly – whoa! – you jolt awake? What’s up with that? We asked sleep specialist Chris Winter to help us find the answer.
Got a question that has you losing sleep? Send it to us at BrainsOn.org/contact, and we’ll pull an all-nighter to find the answer!