Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 10, 2025
05:52
Handwriting Analysis Indicates Spontaneous Dyskinesias in Neuroleptic Naïve Adolescents at High Risk for Psychosis
Published on: November 21, 2013
15.2K
Sleep-related head jerks: toward a new movement disorder
Régis Lopez1,2, Sofiène Chenini1, Lucie Barateau1,2
1Centre National de Référence Narcolepsie Hypersomnies, Unité des Troubles du Sommeil, Service de Neurologie, Hôpital Gui-de-Chauliac, Montpellier, France.
Sleep
|August 30, 2020
Summary
Excessive sleep-related head jerks (SRHJ) can occur in REM sleep and are sometimes linked to sleepiness. While common, severe SRHJ may represent a distinct sleep disorder separate from REM sleep behavior disorder.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Sleep Medicine
- Movement Disorders
Background:
- Sleep-related head jerks (SRHJ) are often considered physiological, primarily during REM sleep.
- Their clinical significance and association with other sleep parameters remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- Characterize clinical and polysomnographic features of patients with excessive SRHJ.
- Compare these features with healthy controls and patients with isolated REM sleep behavior disorder (iRBD).
Main Methods:
- Video-polysomnography (PSG) was used to analyze 30 patients with high REM-HJ index (>30/h).
- SRHJ characteristics, associations with other sleep parameters, and REM sleep activity were assessed.
- Comparison groups included 30 healthy controls and 30 iRBD patients.
Main Results:
- Five patients reported involuntary head movements linked to sleepiness or non-restorative sleep.
- Excessive SRHJ occurred at a mean index of 57.22/h, were nonperiodic, and stable across sleep cycles.
- SRHJ were associated with arousals and leg movements but not increased REM muscle activity; they were also present in controls and iRBD patients but at lower rates.
Conclusions:
- SRHJ are frequent in the general population with uncertain clinical significance.
- Rare, severe symptomatic forms of SRHJ warrant individual consideration.
- These severe cases may represent a novel sleep-related movement disorder, distinct from RBD and periodic leg movements.
Related Concept Videos
01:15REM Sleep Behavior Disorder
1.0K
REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD) is a sleep disorder characterized by the absence of muscle paralysis that normally occurs during the REM phase of sleep. This absence allows individuals to physically act out their dreams, which are often vivid and disturbing. Common behaviors exhibited during episodes include kicking, punching, and yelling. These actions can be dangerous, potentially leading to injuries for the person with RBD or their bed partner.
RBD is significantly associated with...
RBD is significantly associated with...
1.0K
01:27Restless Leg Syndrome and Night Terrors
361
Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS), also known as Willis-Ekbom disease, is a neurological disorder characterized by an uncontrollable urge to move the legs due to uncomfortable sensations. These sensations typically occur during periods of rest or inactivity, particularly when lying down or sitting, and can severely disrupt sleep.
The exact cause of RLS is not fully understood, but it is believed to involve dopamine, a neurotransmitter that helps regulate muscle movement. Imbalances in dopamine levels...
The exact cause of RLS is not fully understood, but it is believed to involve dopamine, a neurotransmitter that helps regulate muscle movement. Imbalances in dopamine levels...
361
01:17Sleepwalking and Sleep Talking
565
Somnambulism, commonly known as sleepwalking, involves individuals engaging in activities ranging from simple walking to more complex behaviors such as driving. Sleepwalking typically occurs during the slow-wave sleep stages 3 and 4 early in the night when the person is not dreaming, contradicting the myth that sleepwalkers are acting out their dreams.
Factors that increase the likelihood of sleepwalking include sleep deprivation and alcohol consumption. Contrary to common beliefs, it is safe...
Factors that increase the likelihood of sleepwalking include sleep deprivation and alcohol consumption. Contrary to common beliefs, it is safe...
565
01:07Narcolepsy
349
Narcolepsy is a chronic sleep disorder characterized by pervasive, uncontrolled sleepiness and other sleep disturbances. One of its hallmark symptoms is an abrupt transition to REM sleep upon falling asleep, which causes symptoms typically associated with this phase to occur unexpectedly during wakefulness. These include the following symptoms, which typically last from a minute or two to half an hour.
349
01:24Sleep-Wake Cycles
2.5K
Sleep is an essential physiological process vital to maintaining overall well-being. The reticular activating system (RAS), a network of neurons in the brainstem, regulates wakefulness and sleep. While it may seem passive, sleep consists of distinct cycles, each with its unique characteristics and functions. Two key sleep phases are non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and rapid eye movement (REM).
NREM Sleep
NREM sleep comprises four progressive stages that seamlessly merge:
NREM Sleep
NREM sleep comprises four progressive stages that seamlessly merge:
2.5K
01:15Equilibrium and Balance
5.9K
The inner ear assumes dual functionalities of auditory perception and equilibrium maintenance. The vestibule is the organ responsible for balance. This organ contains mechanoreceptors, specifically hair cells, endowed with stereocilia, which aid in deciphering information regarding the position and motion of our heads. Two intrinsic components, the utricle and saccule, help perceive head position, while the semicircular canals track head movement. Neurological messages initiated in the...
5.9K