My hamster was hypnotised or something, any ideas?

we have a year and a half old teddy bear hamster, chubby, happy and apparently healthy. I got him out half an hour ago and was stroking him and talking to him (I know, I know) as always. After a couple of minutes I stopped stroking him and waited for him to move, but he was completely motionless, eyes wide open and ears up. I was a little freaked, I blew gently on him, and tried to feel for a heart beat, but nothing. My little boy was getting so upset and I really thought Hamtaro was dead :( I was just about to put him down (he'd been frozen and unresponsive for a few minutes) when he moved his whiskers, had a sniff and was back to normal in a minute! What happened?? Did I hypnotise him by stroking him? I know hammies can hibernate if they're cold, but he's always warm enough. When I was stroking him, he was snuggled in a fluffy blanket, so he wasn't chilly. I'm hoping this is natural and doesn't mean he's on his last legs. Does anybody know what might have happened? Thanks in advance.