This content has been automatically translated from Ukrainian.
Jamais vu (from the French jamais vu, meaning "never seen") is a psychological phenomenon opposite to déjà vu. When a person experiences jamais vu, they feel that a familiar situation or event is completely new and unfamiliar, even though it has occurred before. In other words, the person does not recognize what should be familiar.
Characteristics of the phenomenon:
- Like déjà vu, the feeling of jamais vu occurs suddenly and lasts only a few seconds.
- The sensation can be so intense that a person begins to doubt their own memory.
- Despite the strong feeling of novelty, a person usually realizes that they have experienced this situation before but cannot recognize it as familiar.
Researchers propose several theories that may explain the phenomenon of jamais vu:
Neurological theories:
- Jamais vu may result from a temporary glitch in the brain's memory processing, where familiar situations are temporarily not recognized as such.
- The phenomenon may occur due to temporary disruptions in the neural networks responsible for recognizing and processing familiar situations.
Psychological theories:
- Jamais vu occurs more frequently in states of extreme fatigue or exhaustion when the brain cannot properly process information.
- When a person is in a state of information overload or stress, their brain may "turn off" the recognition of familiar situations.
Memory theories:
- Jamais vu may be related to temporary dissociation, where a person feels detached from their surroundings, making it difficult to recognize familiar objects and situations.
Prevalence and impact
- Jamais vu is a less common phenomenon than déjà vu. However, many people have experienced a similar feeling at least once in their lives.
- Jamais vu is normal and does not indicate any pathological conditions, although frequent jamais vu may be associated with certain mental or neurological disorders.
Jamais vu is an interesting and less common psychological phenomenon that is opposite to déjà vu. It occurs suddenly and evokes a sense of novelty in familiar situations. Like déjà vu, jamais vu attracts the attention of scientists who seek to understand its nature and mechanisms. Regardless of its origin, jamais vu reminds us of the complexity and wonder of our brain and memory's workings.
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