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hypnagogic jerk
A sudden muscle contraction that occurs just as a person is falling asleep, often accompanied by a sensation of falling.
Examples:
- Many people experience a hypnagogic jerk when they first lie down, causing them to jolt awake momentarily.
- I was just about to doze off when a hypnagogic jerk startled me back to full alertness.
sleep onset
The transition phase when a person moves from wakefulness to sleep, often characterized by various sensations including floating or falling.
Examples:
- During sleep onset, some individuals report a floating sensation, making it a unique experience before full sleep takes hold.
- He felt a floating sensation as he approached sleep onset, blurring the line between consciousness and dreams.
tactile hallucination
A type of sensation where one feels physical sensations that do not correspond to external stimuli, which can occur in the hypnagogic state.
Examples:
- Tactile hallucinations can sometimes manifest as a feeling of floating or sinking before a person fully falls asleep.
- She described her tactile hallucination as feeling like she was gently floating above her bed.