Deja Vu: Mind Games

Something reminds me… If you feel like this isn’t the first time you’ve read this sentence, your mind is probably playing tricks on you! The term “déjà vu” or “promnesia” in Greek describes the feeling of being in a present situation again in the past. Many believe this is a past life experience or a glitch in the Matrix, but scientists have a different opinion.

Can science explain the phenomenon of déjà vu?

These feelings are difficult to study because they tend to appear spontaneously and disappear easily, scientists say, and they are difficult to recreate in the lab. However, researchers at the Leeds Memory Group have tried to implant memories in their study participants using hypnosis, while at Colorado State University they have turned to virtual reality. The results of the experiments have led experts to suspect that déjà vu is a memory phenomenon, and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has also confirmed this.

There are dozens of theories, but the most popular one concerns a mismatch in two simultaneous processes. In particular, researchers from the University of St Andrews in Scotland believe that déjà vu is the result of incorrect activation of parts of the brain that recognize familiar situations. When this happens, another area takes over the feeling of familiarity by recalling past experiences. Although the delay is very small, at that moment the brain cannot determine whether something has happened in the past or not, and when no true matches are found in the end, it quickly tries to correct its mistake.

In other words, déjà vu reflects the human brain’s ability to process memories at different levels and at different speeds. This is further evidence that our brain is special because a slight slowdown in its functions equates to the surreal sensation of false memories.

Is something wrong?

There is no cause for concern. Almost everyone has at least one such experience in their life. But if you notice that this feeling is persistent or accompanied by other symptoms, such as headaches or confusion, there may be an underlying health problem. Your personal physician will assess the situation and advise you accordingly.

* source: Vita