How does déjà vu work?

Answer

Dear Dan,

A déjà vu can happen at any moment: you are in a city and you have the feeling that you have already been there, or you are talking to someone in a cafe and suddenly get the feeling that you have already had the conversation… characterized by a feeling of ‘familiarity’, which also suddenly (very quickly) disappears again and which you cannot possibly recall.

Over time, many possible explanations for this phenomenon have been sought: evidence of reincarnation, the out-of-synchronization of the left and right brain hemispheres, etc.

A recent study suggests that déjà vu is actually a mistake in the brain when it comes to processing new information.

For this it is necessary to briefly explain how the processing of information takes place. Everything that is registered in the brain is brought together into one whole via different ‘paths’ to one point. For example, sensory perceptions (what you see) and feelings associated with them are processed in different parts of the brain. This different information is then sent to one central point where everything is processed into one whole.

A déjà vu can arise when information is incorrectly labeled as ‘familiar’ by the sensory center of the brain (limbic system). It will thus result in a ‘feeling of familiarity’ in a situation that is nevertheless completely new. You get the feeling that it is familiar when you actually know that this is impossible.

The reverse of déjà vu also exists: it is called jamais vu. Instead of a ‘familiar’ feeling occurring in a new situation, a familiar situation is incorrectly labeled as ‘new’. For example in your own home or in your own family. You suddenly have the feeling that you have never seen the furniture in your own house…