The mystery of Déjà vu

Déjà vu explained: A strange feeling of reliving a moment due to memory mix-ups and unconscious recognition in the brain.

Déjà vu is a French term that means “already seen.” It describes the strange feeling that you’re repeating a moment, even though it’s happening for the first time. It’s like your mind plays a trick, making you feel as if you’ve been in that exact situation before, even though you haven’t.

Scientists think déjà vu happens because your brain is mixing up memories. Sometimes, you see or experience something that reminds your brain of a past event, even if it’s not exactly the same. This confusion tricks your brain into believing you’ve lived the moment before, creating that déjà vu feeling.

The brain works like a computer, storing and recalling memories. Normally, it keeps track of past experiences and new ones separately. But sometimes, signals in the brain get crossed or misfired. When this happens, your brain mistakenly thinks a new experience is actually an old memory, and that’s what creates the feeling of déjà vu.

Some scientists believe that déjà vu may be related to the temporal lobe of the brain, which is responsible for memory, language, and emotions. Disruptions between the temporal lobe and the hippocampus (which manages short-term memory) might trigger déjà vu.

Unconscious processing

Another possible explanation for déjà vu involves our brain’s ability to process information unconsciously. Our brains are constantly taking in and processing information from our senses, even when we’re not actively aware of it. It’s possible that sometimes, our brains unconsciously recognize a familiar pattern or element within a new situation. When we later consciously become aware of this situation, our brain might mistakenly interpret the familiarity as a sign that we’ve experienced it before, leading to a feeling of déjà vu.

Think of it like listening to a song for the first time. You might not consciously recognize the tune, but if you’ve heard it before in the background or in a commercial, your brain might unconsciously recognize it. When you hear the song again in a different context, you might suddenly feel like you’ve heard it before, even though you can’t remember where.