The French term, déjà vu, is the most familiar déjà experience. Derives from a foreign language ‘French’, the primary reference here literally means ‘already seen’ and has several variations.
French scientist ‘Emile Boirac’, one of the first to study this strange phenomenon, gave the subject its name in 1876. It was originally longer, ‘Le Sentiment Du Déjà Vu’ (Boirac, 1876), and ‘Sensation Du Déjà Vu’ (Arnaud, 1896).
Tongue-Tying Alternatives Conveying Relatively Equivalent Meanings :
The ‘Fausse Reconnaissance’ or ‘Fausse Mémoire’ Of Bernard-Leroy, Biervliet (1894), Freud, Heymans and Laurent; or The ‘Souvenir Du Présent’ Of Bergson; or The ‘Reconnaissance Des Phénomènes Nouveaux’ Of Bourdon; or The ‘Falsa Intuizione Di Ricordo’ Of Montesano; and The German ‘Erinnerungsfälschunges’ (Kraepelin) or ‘Fälschen Wiedererkennens’. (Lehmann and Linwurzky) Déjà Vu — (literally ‘already seen’) is the generic déjà experience — were largely consigned to the dusty archives of forgotten history.
Early insights into the déjà vu experience, traced as far back as ‘Pythagoras & Plato’, connect it with ‘sensation’ or ‘recollection’ originating in a past life. A trace of prior ‘incarnations’ or of the ‘transmigration of souls’.
Later explanations of déjà vu sometimes include mention of ‘hereditary memory’ or ‘telepathy’, and of ‘precognition’ — (the ability to predict events prior to their occurrence), highlighting the dissonance aroused by the notion of familiarity with both present and future events.
Déjà Vu has come to acquire more global meaning encompassing other aspects of experience as well. ‘.....Parapsychologists think déjà vu is a glimpse into a past-life. The event did happen similarly before, it just happened to die between the occurrences.....’
Psychological explanations of the ‘phenomenon’ tend to centre on issues of ‘individual perception and memory’, though more ‘mysterious’ or ‘metaphysical aspects’ of a possible ‘sixth sense’ have at times been invoked to account for this ‘disconcerting feeling’.
This ‘mysterious feeling’, commonly known as déjà vu, occurs when you feel that a new situation is familiar. It is an ‘uncanny feeling’ or ‘illusion’ of having already seen or experienced something that is being experienced for the first time.
Even if there is evidence that the situation could not have occurred previously. In general, the phenomena can be summed up as experiencing the past in the present.
For a long time, this ‘eerie sensation’ has been attributed to everything from ‘paranormal disturbances’ to ‘neurological disorders’. There are often references to déjà vu that aren't really true déjà vu.
Psychological explanations of the ‘phenomenon’ tend to centre on issues of ‘individual perception and memory’, though more ‘mysterious’ or ‘metaphysical aspects’ of a possible ‘sixth sense’ have at times been invoked to account for this ‘disconcerting feeling’.
This ‘mysterious feeling’, commonly known as déjà vu, occurs when you feel that a new situation is familiar. It is an ‘uncanny feeling’ or ‘illusion’ of having already seen or experienced something that is being experienced for the first time.
Even if there is evidence that the situation could not have occurred previously. In general, the phenomena can be summed up as experiencing the past in the present.
For a long time, this ‘eerie sensation’ has been attributed to everything from ‘paranormal disturbances’ to ‘neurological disorders’. There are often references to déjà vu that aren't really true déjà vu.
The Most Common Misuse Of The Term Déjà Vu Seems To Be With :
Precognitive Experiences :
— Experiences where someone gets a feeling that they know exactly what's going to happen next, and it does. An ‘important distinction’ is that déjà vu is experienced during an event, not before.
If they are real, show things that will happen in the future, not things that you've already experienced. However, one theory about déjà vu deals with ‘precognitive dreams’ that give you a ‘déjà vu feeling’ afterwards.
Hallucinations :
— That are brought on by illness or drugs sometimes bring a heightened awareness and are confused with déjà vu.
‘False Memories’ that are brought on by ‘schizophrenia’ can be confused with déjà vu as well. Unlike true déjà vu, which typically lasts from 10 to 30 seconds. These ‘false memories’ or ‘hallucinations’ can last much longer.
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The youngest age of déjà vu reported is age 5. In fact, it is a fairly common occurrence with 70% a higher rate is reported, between the ages of 15 and 25 of the population. Reporting, that they have felt déjà vu at least ‘once in their lives’.
There is a complex interchange with age and incidence based on ‘quality of remembering’. The upper age varies among researchers, but most agree that déjà vu experiences decrease with age.
There have also been higher reported occurrences among those with higher incomes, those who tend to travel more and those with higher education levels.
There is a complex interchange with age and incidence based on ‘quality of remembering’. The upper age varies among researchers, but most agree that déjà vu experiences decrease with age.
There have also been higher reported occurrences among those with higher incomes, those who tend to travel more and those with higher education levels.
Active imaginations and the ability to recall dreams has also been a commonality among people who report déjà vu experiences. One reported finding is that the more ‘open-minded’ or ‘politically liberal’ a person is, the more likely they are to experience déjà vu. They are more likely to talk about something potentially seen as ‘weird’, like déjà vu.
There is an evident absence of truth, as expressed through varying opinions from psychologists, scientists, neurobiologists and spiritual healers.
No one seems to be pointing to a definite answer.....
Despite the several means of defining déjà vu, explanations of the causes remain uniformly elusive. A scientific reading of the experience maintains that déjà vu is related to memory.
The Divided Specialization Of Experience In The Brain :
- The Frontal Lobes Are Tied To The Future
- The Temporal Lobes Are Concerned With The Past
- The Limbic System Deals With The Present
Regular function of all parts, under a normal state of consciousness, will only trigger sensory responses in accordance with the time frame being targeted.
In this area of the brain are the ‘hippocampus’ (part of the limbic system) associated with short-term memory.
The ‘parahippocampal cortex’ (on the surface of the brain, along the bottom of the temporal lobes) associated with long-term memory.
Often, upon proper functioning, there is seamless integration between the past, present and future. However, when excessive communication between short-term and long-term memories occurs, the present may begin to feel like the past.
When perceptions of the present are incorrectly filtered through the memory system of the ‘parahippocampal gyrus’ and its ‘neocortical connections’ (responsible for recognizing memories from the past), the present moment will feel like a past memory.
Since the memory system is responsible for judgments of familiarity, the faulty, isolated activity results in a momentary scene being given the characteristics of familiarity, which would ordinarily be in conjunction with a ‘conscious recollection’.
While the seemingly scientific explanation may debunk déjà vu's phenomenological reputation, the phenomenon is found in the fact that the miscommunication is completely isolated.
Parts of the brain structure involved in ‘memory retrieval’ (prefrontal cortex, hippocampus), function normally while the isolated activity in the memory system is occurring.
The Brain Fluctuates Between Two Different Types Of Recognition Memory :
- Recollection
- Familiarity
Recollection-Based Recognition — Occurs when you can pinpoint an instance when a current situation has previously occurred.
Familiarity-Based Recognition — Occurs when your current situation feels familiar, but you don’t remember when it has happened before.
When the previously experienced scene fails to come to mind in response to viewing the new scene, that previously experienced scene in memory can still exert an effect. That effect may be a feeling of familiarity with the new scene that is subjectively experienced as a feeling of deja vu, or of having been there before despite knowing otherwise.
When the previously experienced scene fails to come to mind in response to viewing the new scene, that previously experienced scene in memory can still exert an effect. That effect may be a feeling of familiarity with the new scene that is subjectively experienced as a feeling of deja vu, or of having been there before despite knowing otherwise.
These findings indicate that the participants stored a little bit of the memory, so they were not able to connect it to the new experience.
Another possible explanation for the ‘phenomenon of déjà vu’ is the occurrence of ‘cryptomnesia’, which is where information learned is forgotten but nevertheless stored in the brain.
Another possible explanation for the ‘phenomenon of déjà vu’ is the occurrence of ‘cryptomnesia’, which is where information learned is forgotten but nevertheless stored in the brain.
Similar occurrences invoke the contained knowledge, leading to a feeling of familiarity because of the situation, event or emotional / vocal content, known as ‘déjà vu’.
These support the idea that events and episodes which you experience are stored in your memory as individual elements or fragments of that event.
Déjà vu may occur when specific aspects of a current situation resemble certain aspects of previously occurring situations. If there is a lot of overlap between the elements of the new and old situations, you get a strong feeling of familiarity.
Some experts suggest that memory is a process of reconstruction, rather than a recall of fixed, established events. This reconstruction comes from stored components, involving elaborations, distortions and omissions. Each successive recall of an event is merely a recall of the last reconstruction.
Different Presentations Of Déjà Vu
Essays in Cognitive Psychology has three categories for déjà vu.
Déjà Vu Caused By :
- Biological Dysfunction (e.g. Epilepsy)
- Implicit Familiarity
- Divided Perception
However, in 1983, Dr. Vernon Neppe, Director of the Pacific Neuropsychiatric Institute in Seattle, proposed four subcategories of déjà vu, including ‘epileptic’, ‘subjective paranormal’, ‘schizophrenic’ and ‘associative’.
This study shows there are at least four specific subtypes of déjà vu corresponding to diagnostic categories and that such phenomenological experiences may be used in diagnosis and management.
To test the hypothesis that there are several distinct clinical pictures of déjà vu that are homogenous for diagnostic or nosological subtype.
Qualitative déjà vu screening instrument for psychosis, seizures and subjective anomalous experience has possible valuable applications. This framework has enormous potential phenomenologic application to the detail needed in analyzing other neuropsychiatric experience.
Subjects Were Grouped Into Two Categories :
- Normals With And Without Subjective Paranormal Experiences.
- A Neuropsychiatric Group With Schizophrenics And Temporal Lobe (Epileptics And Other Epileptics)
Distinct Clinically Homogeneous Categories Of The Déjà Vu Experience :
IN THE NORMALS :
Subjective paranormal déjà vu experience was characterized by its time distortions and specific predictions component occurred in the subjective paranormal experiment.
IN THE AVERAGE PERSON ( NORMALS WITHOUT CLAIMED PSYCHIC EXPERIENCE ) - ASSOCIATIVE DEJA VU :
The most common type of déjà vu experienced by normal, healthy people is associative in nature. You see, hear, smell or otherwise experience something that stirs a feeling that you associate with something you've seen, heard, smelled or experienced before.
The experience of déjà vu had a lack of memorable / outstanding features. Just a perplexity and is generally infrequent and short lasting. Many researchers think that this type of déjà vu is a memory-based experience and assume that the memory centers of brain are responsible for it.
IN THE NEUROPSYCHIATRIC GROUP -BIOLOGICAL DEJA VU :
There are also high occurrences of déjà vu among people with temporal lobe epilepsy. Just before having a seizure they often experience a strong feeling of déjà vu. This has given researchers a slightly more reliable way of studying déjà vu, and they've been able to identify the areas of the brain where these types of déjà vu signals originate.
However, some researchers say that this type of déjà vu is distinctly different from typical déjà vu. The person experiencing it may truly believe they've been through the exact situation before, rather than getting a feeling that quickly passes.
Déjà vu experienced by temporal lobe epileptics was characterized by ictal and postepileptic features. Such as stereotypical other temporal lobe features with headache, clouded consciousness and sleepiness afterwards. This type of experience did not occur in schizophrenics, whose déjà vu experiences were characterized by psychotic intrusions.
Early researchers tried to establish a link between déjà vu and serious psychopathology such as schizophrenia, anxiety, and dissociative identity disorder, but failed to find the experience of some diagnostic value. There does Not Seem to be any special association between déjà vu and schizophrenia or other psychiatric conditions.
The strongest pathological association of déjà vu is with temporal lobe apilepsy (TLE). The link to TLE appears to be significantly stronger, as déjà vu appears in the aura of temporal lobe epilepsy. An instance of déjà vu can occur right before a temporal lobe epileptic attack or during the seizure between convulsions.
The prevalence of déjà vu in society, however, discredits the notion that déjà vu is attributed to TLE because the experience is undergone by masses of people, not solely epileptics. This correlation has led some researchers to speculate that the experience of déjà vu is possibly a neurological anomaly related to improper electrical discharge in the brain.
Yet another discussed cause of déjà vu appears to be the emergence of memories of past lives to the present life. Parapsychologists support this hypothesis as being connected to wish fulfillment from the past life in the present.
This particular reasoning is highly debated because it can't be proved, disproved or investigated. It remains a matter of faith. However, Algorithmic Reincarnation is most consistent with the theory of reincarnation and predicts that memories are unable to pass from one life to the next. A set of signals, instead, can be transferred to reflect states of consciousness.
7 Major Phenomenological Classifications Of The Déjà Vu Experience :
- A Disorder Of Memory
- A Disorder Of Ego State
- An Ego Defense
- A Temporal Perceptual Disturbance
- A Recognition Disorder
- A Manifestation Of Epileptic Firing
- Or A Subjective Paranormal Experience
The numerous psycho-dynamic explanations of déjà vu include that it may be a residue of a dream state, a form of ego defense against uncomfortable experiences or repressed memories, or a blurring of the psychological separation of self from environment.
The ‘uncanny’ (and perhaps undecideable) aspects of the notion since have provided fodder for ruminations by contemporary thinkers.
The Various Manifestations Of Déjà Vu Experience
The terms "déjà experience" and "déjà vu" are used interchangeably. There are more than 40 theories as to what déjà vu is and what causes it, and they range from reincarnation to glitches in our memory processes.
There were already 10 other lesser known déjà terms all decades old, though some such as déjà voulu were purely theoretical, as true examples were unavailable.
In this article, you'll explore a few of those theories to shed some light on this little understood phenomenon.
In this article, you'll explore a few of those theories to shed some light on this little understood phenomenon.
The Full Deja Vu Experience
Below Are Names For Some Of The Many Ways In Which The Déjà Experience May Manifest :
Two Key Pretenders To Déjà Vu Itself :
Déjà Eprouvé — Already experienced, felt, attempted, or tried: This fails as a broad generic term because "experienced" here, is in the sense of attempted or tried.
Déjà Vécu — Implies already lived through, fully experienced or recollected, intense experiential term, but fails because ‘experienced’ here, is the sense of fully experienced, recollected, or lived through, which would exclude much déjà vu.
At times the demarcation is artificial, as the déjà experience can co-exist in more than one of the above categories.
Moreover, the literature and experience indicate that there are several other common kinds of déjà experience that have not yet been categorized.
Ten New Terms :
One Interesting Consequence Has Been The Realization Of The Necessity For Six More Kinds Of Déjà Experience :
These, for historical completeness, are the 4 legitimate, neologisms reflecting the different nosological categories of déjà experience. They occur with specific features, in different sub-populations, and are nosologically distinct, implying possible different causalities for each.
Déjà Rencontré — Appears preferable to déjà trouvé for the already met experience because it specifically relates to interpersonal situations.
One Interesting Consequence Has Been The Realization Of The Necessity For Six More Kinds Of Déjà Experience :
The Thirtieth Déjà Variant Is Being Announced For The First Time Now :
Otherwise you may remain unaware of their presence particularly in patients with psychosis originally schizophrenia (Psychotic Déjà Vu), temporal lobe disease (Temporal Lobe Déjà Vu), in subjective paranormal experients (Subjective Paranormal Experience Déjà Vu), and in ostensible normals (Associative Déjà Vu) — The common garden subtype in ordinary individuals.
Déjà vu, in all respects, is considered a phenomenon from definition to treatment. It occupies a realm of altered states and varied realities. The fascinating nature of déjà vu is precisely that it is inexplicable.
These definitions are helpful in differentiating seemingly similar experiences of déjà vu, thus giving the opportunity to disseminate the varied forms past references. The references triggered by déjà vu may often feel increasingly familiar, prompting people to seek less scientific explanations for causality, such as dreams, familiar objects.
This sort of commonsensical action is the epitome of a person's reaction to the equating of the brain to behavior. The possibility is unreal, too vast to comprehend. Déjà vu accurately symbolizes these qualities. A glimpse of a familiar object in the present is often too simple, too common of an occurrence to trace back to proper brain functioning.
Déjà vu and similar everyday phenomena promote exploration of states of consciousness. People's nature is to seek explanations and reasons for every aspect of their lives. Some people become terrified, while other find it exciting in its surrealism.
As with all other altered state experiences, most people who enjoy it think of the experience in spiritual terms, and those who don't, think about it in psychological terms. While the experience of déjà vu in itself remain harmless, if the activity from the hippocampus (subscribing to a neurobiological explanation for causation) were to transfer to the amygdala.
The structure that emotionally overwhelms consciousness in the present state, it is likely that déjà vu can yield a sense of fear. The advice commonly given for fear of déjà vu is to seek professional help. For people who react positively to déjà vu, meditation and further spiritual exploration of the experience is suggested.
The goal, therefore, of the meditation, which would focus in the here and now, would be to emphasize the present reality of déjà vu, as opposed to focusing on the familiar perception of the past. Mysterious phenomena thus serve as catalysts for educating people about reality and at times, the inexplicable.
It would be greatly beneficial if déjà vu caused people to examine their existence and their emotional and psychological relationship with memory. The cause of déjà vu may be fully attributed to brain function, but in pondering metaphysical causes, people who experience déjà can come to channel and better understand their states of consciousness.
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