ELI5-Why do muscles twitch?
In: Biology
Generally speaking they’re nerve impulses or other triggers originating from somewhere other than your conscious brain. There are a multitude of reasons as to why this can happen.
Caffeine is a big one, as it can cause a buildup of a molecule known as ADP, which is normally responsible for muscle contraction, among other things. When there is too much ADP in the body it can cause muscles to contract on their own with no nerve impulse.
Dehydration is another potential cause, as a lack of water in your body affects the concentration of salt within it, which can affect nerve and muscle function.
Neurological disorders are less common, but can cause this also. Multiple sclerosis (MS), for example, is a disease that strips the protective insulation (known as the myelin sheath) away from your nerves. Think of this as stripping a wire. Now that wire is exposed to the elements and is much more likely to short circuit. That’s exactly what happens with MS, and it causes nerves to fire on their own.
There are many more causes beyond these but you get the idea: Something in the body doesn’t work like it should and sends a signal or chemical that forces the muscle to contract spontaneously.
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