Written by Elif Gulce Batgi
When you are in a moment, sometimes you can feel that the moment you are in has happened before. It could be a moment that left a mark in your life or even one you have never experienced. Moments can include actions, conversations, or places. For example, imagine you just have met someone and having a conversation. Suddenly, you start to feel you had that exact conversation before, but you know that you have never talked with that person. Then, what is happening at these moments? How do they occur? What causes them?
Deja vu, a translated word from French, means “already seen” which reflects the definition of it so clearly, has been experienced by 97% of people at least once in their lives. It affects three parts of the brain: the hippocampus, parahippocampal gyrus, and temporal neocortex, the parts associated with memories (2). Although the accompaniment of temporal lobe epilepsy, deja vu can be observed in people without any health issues (1). Moreover, youth is another reason to be more observant. Deja vu is likely to be seen in young adults more than in others.
Despite of inaccuracy of what causes deja vu, there are still some theories that have been proposed by experts. Split perception is experiencing one thing in two different moments. During the event, your brain may create memories, even though there is not enough information. And you might take more than you think. In other words, when the experience enters perception it seems like it is the first time because of the carelessness (1). Another theory of minor brain circuit malfunctions suggests that deja vu happens because the brain can’t distinguish the present events and memories and confuse them (1). However, there has to be no concern if it is not regular. Another type of brain malfunction theory suggests that while short-term memories are transforming into long ones, memories may take a shortcut and it may cause them to remember a moment. Also, another one suggests that the information is transmitted to two different parts of the brain and it causes delayed processing. Many experts believe deja vu is about the process and recall of our memories. It can be a moment we have experienced but not remembered. However, our brain knows we have been in similar situations before. It causes a complicated situation because if you would be able to remember it, you would. So there would be nothing called deja vu because you would connect past and present memories.
Deja vu might not be seen as too dangerous, so far. No matter how safe it is seen, people should be concerned about when it happens frequently. If it happens frequently, you may visit a neurologist to control whether you have epilepsy or not because it happens before or during epileptic seizures. Epileptic seizures can be easily noticed by the one who has them. But the same does not go for focal ones. Deja vu usually happens before a focal seizure. Even though the person is still conscious, it affects the ability to respond and react. Losing the ability to react and respond prevents the possibility of being noticed by someone that could help you during the seizure. Also, there are other symptoms such as twitching or loss of muscle control, sensory disruptions or hallucinations, repeated involuntary movements, and a rush of emotion that can’t be explained.
In daily life, deja vu appears in nearly every person in society. Although it still keeps its mystery, there are still some theories about occurrence and causation proposed by neurologists. However, deja vu could be dangerous and a symptom of a health problem, so experts suggest going to the nearest health facility if a person experiences deja vu more than a normal human should experience.
References:
Raypole, C. (n.d.). What causes Deja Vu? Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/what-causes-deja-vu#when-to-be-concerned.
What is Deja Vu and why do we experience it? (2022, May 31). Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-deja-vu-why-do-we-experience-it-5272526#citation-5.
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