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Ah yes, the phenomenon of living a moment you swear you’ve lived before. You’re just going about living when the sensation cruises on by. Could it be that you’ve dreamt of it? Maybe you knew something would happen, or perhaps it’s a type of moment that occurs over and over again, like saying hello to someone you pass in the morning. It clicks, and for a brief second, you’re sure and then unsure. What’s the deal with déjà vu?
Why Does It Happen?
What’s behind the feeling that an exact moment has happened before? I had my money on the fact that we’ve all got a psychic intuition somewhere in us, but as science would have it—there are some solid facts behind this one. It all comes back to the brain.
Your Mind Isn’t Playing Tricks on You, Don’t Worry
The data isn’t disappointing, though. It turns out that something is going on with our memory, and it’s not incorrect to say that we are experiencing something twice.
When considering that memory tends to decline with age, one probably wouldn’t assume that young people, specifically those in their teens and twenties, experience the most déjà vu. They can mean that the brain is healthy, and the brain is effectively managing feelings of familiarity.
Understanding Déjà Vu
What happens is a momentary disconnect between the two sides of your brain. When transferring information, one side has processed that something has happened, but the other side has not. The feeling of a repeated moment comes when the second side of the brain receives the information. When this happens, the brain collectively processes it again, accounting for those seconds twice, creating the false impression that the moment has happened before.
When Déjà Vu Might Be Dangerous
Déjà vu might suggest the presence of neurological irregularity if it occurs under these circumstances. In which case, it may be wise to consult with a neurologist.
- A few times a month
- Experienced with dream-like visions
- Followed by passing out or loss of consciousness while chewing, fumbling, heart racing, or sense of fear.
So there you have it. Déjà vu is just yet another wonder of our intricate minds. Pretty cool, right? Pretty cool, right? Just kidding.
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