Blog post #4- why and how do people experience déjà vu? Round 2 of research

For my second round of research, I looked deeper into how the brain may create déjà vu.

For my second round of research, I focused on how the brain may create déjà vu. Scientists believe that déjà vu is connected to memory and the way the brain processes information.

One possible explanation is that déjà vu happens because of a small glitch in memory processing. Scientists believe that the brain may accidentally process the same moment twice within a very short amount of time, almost like a delay or overlap in the brain’s system (1). When this happens, the second time the information is processed, it can feel familiar even though the person is actually experiencing it for the first time. This may create the strong sensation that the exact moment has already happened before. For example, someone could be having a conversation or walking into a place they have never seen, but suddenly feel like they already know what is about to happen next. Even though the experience is new, the brain mistakenly recognizes it as an old memory, which creates the thin called déjà vu (5)

Another explanation involves the brain confusing new information with stored memories. The temporal lobe, which is the part of the brain related to memory and recognition, may play an important role in déjà vu (2). If a situation feels similar to a past experience, the brain may incorrectly recognize it as something familiar. Researchers also think that certain details, such as sounds, smells, conversations, or places, can remind the brain of past memories without the person fully realizing it (3). Even if the memory is not remembered, the brain may still recognize patterns and create a feeling of familiarity.

Scientists are still researching déjà vu because the brain is very complex, and there is not one exact explanation yet. However, many studies suggest that memory, recognition, and timing inside the brain are all connected to the experience of déjà vu. (4)