Up to 80% of the population have experienced Déjà Vu at least once in their life. One example would be looking at an object and feeling like it is familiar, even though it is new, as shown in the picture below.
What is Déjà Vu?
Déjà vu can be defined as a strange sense of familiarity in a new situation. Also, in French, déjà vu translates as “already seen.” The word déjà vu is used to describe these experiences, but there are many other types one can experience, such as déjà entendu (already heard), déjà fait (already done), and déjà su (already known).
Why does Déjà Vu occur?
Since déjà vu occurs briefly and without any notice, it is very difficult for scientists to record and study déjà vu. Hence, scientists have not yet figured out the exact cause of déjà vu. However, there are more than 40 theories to explain the cause. One is the theory of split conception. This theory suggests that déjà vu occurs when one actually sees the event two different times. However, the first time a person encounters the event, he/she does not have full conscious awareness, possibly due to a distraction, causing the object to be observed only in the corner of one’s eye. Thus, when the person encounters it for the second time, the previous perception is recalled in the brain, but the unawareness of the first perception causes the person to experience a déjà vu.
Another theory is the dual processing theory. As an event occurs, one’s brain processes numerous pieces of information at once, including smell, sight, and hearing. These pieces of information are processed through a pathway and are synced into a single moment in milliseconds. At this moment, one of the pathways might undergo a slight delay in information processing. The theory of dual processing suggests that this is when a person experiences déjà vu. The delayed information is recorded in the brain as a separate event, and when one replays the information, it may feel like it has happened before.
IMG source: https://icytales.com/what-deja-vu/
The other well-known theory is the hologram theory. This theory states that memories are recorded in the form of holograms, which only require a segment to see the whole picture. When a person sees an object similar to another object that he/she has seen in the past, the person doesn’t remember that he/she saw the object in the past. Instead, an old memory of the object is recalled with no identification. This causes familiarity with an object but no remembrance: déjà vu.
Should you be concerned about déjà vu?
Usually, déjà vu is not a serious problem. However, déjà vu can occur before or during epileptic or focal seizures. Other than seizures, one can also experience twitching of muscles, repeated involuntary movements, disruptions in sensory, etc. If a person experiences these symptoms or déjà vu frequently, it might be a good choice to visit a neurologist to examine any underlying causes.
References:
- Begum, Jabeen. “Have You Experienced Déjà Vu? Causes and When to See a Doctor.” WebMD, 22 June 2021, https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/what-is-deja-vu. Accessed 6 November 2022.
- Blanchfield, Theodora. “What Is Déjà Vu and Why Do We Experience It?” Verywell Mind, 31 May 2022, https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-deja-vu-why-do-we-experience-it-5272526. Accessed 6 November 2022.
- Chakrabarty, Monimoyee. “What Is Déjà Vu?” Icy Tales, 20 July 2016, https://icytales.com/what-deja-vu/. Accessed 6 November 2022.
- “Déjà Vu New Year — DEFY AGING SOLUTIONS.” DEFY AGING SOLUTIONS, 1 March 2018, http://www.defyagingsolutions.com/blog/2018/1/3/dj-vu-new-year. Accessed 6 November 2022.
- Molina, Michael, and Josh Harris. “What is déjà vu? What is déjà vu? - Michael Molina.” YouTube, 28 August 2013, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foVMwJtlR5s. Accessed 6 November 2022.
- Wilson, Debra Rose, et al. “What Causes Déjà Vu? Common Theories, Symptoms to Watch For, and More.” Healthline, 30 March 2020, https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/what-causes-deja-vu#causes. Accessed 6 November 2022.
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