This content has been automatically translated from Ukrainian.
Deja vu (from the French déjà vu, which means "already seen") – is a psychological phenomenon when a person feels that he has already experienced a certain situation or event, although it is happening for the first time. This experience can be very intense and vivid, causing a person to have a strong sense of familiarity.
Characteristics of the phenomenon:
- The feeling of déjà vu usually occurs suddenly and lasts only a few seconds.
- The feeling can be so intense that a person is sure that he has already experienced this moment.
- Despite a strong sense of familiarity, a person usually cannot determine exactly when and where he has already seen or felt this situation.
Researchers propose several theories that may explain the deja vu phenomenon.
Neurological theories:
- Deja Vu can be the result of a short-term failure in the processing of information by the brain, when new information passes through the same neural pathways as familiar memories.
- The brain can process information in two ways at the same time. If one path is delayed a little, the feeling of familiarity can arise because the information is processed twice.
Psychological theories:
- Deja Vu can occur when a new situation is similar to some event or place that a person has already seen or felt in the past, but does not remember it.
- Some scientists believe that déjà vu may be the result of a person seeing a similar situation in a dream and not remembering it, but the brain associates a new event with this dream.
Memory theories:
- The phenomenon of deja vu can be related to the fact that the brain stores fragments of previous memories that are activated in a similar situation.
Most people (up to 70%) have experienced déjà vu at least once in their life. The phenomenon is more common in young people (15 to 25 years old) and becomes rarer with age.
Deja Vu is normal and does not indicate any pathological conditions, although in rare cases, frequent deja Vu may be associated with certain neurological disorders, such as epilepsy.
The phenomenon of deja vu is widely reflected in culture, literature and cinema. It is often used as a metaphor for exploring the theme of memory, time and reality. For example, in the movie "The Matrix", deja vu serves as a sign of a failure in a virtual reality program.
Deja Vu is an interesting and quite common phenomenon that attracts the attention of both scientists and ordinary people. Although its exact mechanisms remain completely unclear, numerous theories offer possible explanations for this mysterious sensation. Regardless of the origin, déjà vu adds a little magic and intrigue to our lives, making us think about the nature of memory and perception.
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