Exploring the Mechanisms of Déjà Vu: Neurological and Psychological Perspectives

Abstract

Déjà vu, a French term meaning "already seen," refers to the perplexing sensation that a current experience has been encountered previously, despite a definitive lack of such an occurrence. This subjective feeling of familiarity, often accompanied by a simultaneous awareness that the familiarity is misplaced, affects approximately 60-70% of the population and is more prevalent in younger individuals, suggesting a potential link to developmental or cognitive processes. However, there is insufficient supporting evidence for the principle underlying the phenomenon. This report aims to explore the primary neurological and psychological theories that attempt to elucidate the underlying causes of this intriguing phenomenon, including disruptions in memory processing, transient neural activity, unconscious memory activation, and attentional influences. Furthermore, it briefly discusses the accessibility and limitations of current research approaches to study déjà vu, including frequency-based questionnaires and electroencephalography monitoring. Overall, this report provides a comprehensive overview of the current understanding of déjà vu and highlights the need for further research to unravel the complex interplay of factors contributing to this fascinating aspect of human consciousness and memory.