What term refers to bizarre experiences, such as jerking or feeling of falling, during the transition to sleep?

The term that refers to bizarre experiences such as jerking or a feeling of falling during the transition to sleep is hypnagogic sensations. These experiences are common as an individual begins to drift from wakefulness into sleep, typically occurring during the initial stages of the sleep cycle. Hypnagogic sensations can involve visual, auditory, or tactile phenomena, making them sometimes vivid or disorienting.

Understanding hypnagogic sensations is important as they highlight the brain's transition between wakefulness and sleep, revealing how our sensory perceptions can alter significantly during this phase. This transition may include muscle jerks, which can be startling and often lead to a brief awakening. As awareness and control of the brain's functions shift while falling asleep, these sensations are a normal aspect of the sleep process and reflect the dynamic changes occurring in neural activity.