Why do we sometimes feel like we fall when we fall asleep?

Why do we have this feeling of falling?

The answer lies in the gradual transition between wakefulness and sleep. When the body relaxes quickly, the brain can misinterpret this sudden release. He believes, wrongly, that we are falling… and reacts by causing a muscle jolt.

This little glitch in internal communication between the brain and the body is actually a protective reflex, a kind of emergency reminder in case you are… installed at height. Yes, you read that right!

A surprising explanation: our distant origins

According to some researchers, hypnic tremors may be a legacy of our distant ancestors. At a time when sleeping in trees was synonymous with survival, a sudden loss of muscle tone could indicate a risk of falling.

The startle would then serve as a safety mechanism to adjust posture while sleeping. An intriguing theory that gives a completely different perspective to this moment when you think you are falling… in his bed.