What is déjà vu?

What is déjà vu? The term 'déjà vu' means, literally, 'already seen.' Learn about déjà vu and theories on why it happens. See more brain pictures.
Photographer: Sebastian Kaulitzki | Agency: Dreamstime.com

The term déjà vu is French and means, literally, "already seen." Those who have experienced the feeling describe it as an overwhelming sense of familiarity with something that shouldn't be familiar at all. Say, for example, you are traveling to England for the first time. You are touring a cathedral, and suddenly it seems as if you have been in that very spot before. Or maybe you are having dinner with a group of friends, discussing some current political topic, and you have the feeling that you've already experienced this very thing -- same friends, same dinner, same topic.

The phenomenon is rather complex, and there are many different theories as to why déjà vu happens. Swiss scholar Arthur Funkhouser suggests that there are several "déjà experiences" and asserts that in order to better study the phenomenon, the nuances between the experiences need to be noted. In the examples mentioned above, Funkhouser would describe the first incidence as déjà visite ("already visited") and the second as déjà vecu ("already experienced or lived through").

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As much as 70 percent of the population reports having experienced some form of déjà vu. A higher number of incidents occurs in people 15 to 25 years old than in any other age group.

Déjà vu has been firmly associated with temporal-lobe epilepsy. Reportedly, déjà vu can occur just prior to a temporal-lobe seizure. People suffering a seizure of this kind can experience déjà vu during the actual seizure activity or in the moments between convulsions.

Since déjà vu occurs in individuals with and without a medical condition, there is much speculation as to how and why this phenomenon happens. Several psychoanalysts attribute déjà vu to simple fantasy or wish fulfillment, while some psychiatrists ascribe it to a mismatching in the brain that causes the brain to mistake the present for the past. Many parapsychologists believe it is related to a past-life experience. Obviously, there is more investigation to be done.

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Originally Published: Jun 13, 2001

Déjà Vu FAQ

Why do we get déjà vu?
We experience déjà vu when our brains send us a signal that a particular event has happened before. Generally it’s not something to be concerned about. However, some experts believe that brain dysfunctionality may cause this phenomenon.
Is déjà vu good or bad?
Déjà vu is merely a feeling and neither good or bad. Studies suggest that it may be caused when the brain is checking information that your senses are giving it.
Is déjà vu a sign of mental illness?
Maybe. If déjà vu is persistent, you might be suffering from a neurological illness. It’s also a common symptom of dementia.
Is déjà vu a warning?
Deja vu can happen all of a sudden and while the sensation seems real for a fleeting moment, it’s not a real warning sign that something bad might happen.

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