Muscles respond to electric stimuli and the muscular reaction is alkaline. The cause is unknown but is usually associated with violent deaths under extremely physical circumstances with intense emotion.

How does cadaveric spasm occur?

Cadaveric spasms happen at the moment of death and persist through rigor mortis. In some instances, the body may appear to move or twitch as the muscles and joints begin to tighten during such a spasm, before rigor mortis.

What is the difference between cadaveric spasm and stiffening?

Rigor mortis is the stiffening of all types of muscles after 2 to 3 hours of death while cadaveric spasm is a rare form of rigor that occurs at the time of death due to extreme nervous stimulation. ... Rigor mortis occurs after 2 to 3 hours of death while cadaveric spasm occurs at the time of death.