How many times in your lifetime have you met a total stranger that seemed so overwhelming familiar to you that you just had to ask “have we met”? Chances are, you have had plenty of those experiences.
There are also those moments when you are so familiar of a particular place that even though you had never been in that area, you have amazing awareness of the entire landscape, buildings, and streets. Perhaps you visit a house and it feels as though you have been there dozens of times. These eerie and often strange experiences are sometimes attributed to a dream. More often, there is a firm sense that the experience actually happened somewhere in time long ago.
The French termed it Deja vu and it is an occurrence that has happened to countless numbers of people throughout time. These experiences may trigger all sorts of intriguing questions that so many of us have pondered at one time or other like, “have I lived before?”, or “have I been here before?”
You may be inspired to reach out to science in search of a logical explanation for your deja vu experiences. If this is the case, you will find that the subject of deja vu is linked into the category of psychological and neurological research. It could explain hallucinations, of, perhaps a neurological abnormality, as a symptom of a biological dysfunction. It is possible that you find your answers if you do indeed have a biological issue.
Subjects such as deja vu, astral projection, precognition, dreams, etc, have long been relegated to the fields of parapsychology and paranormal research. Here you will find fascinating accounts of deja vu experiences that are placed in specific categories and absorbed into broad domains of paranormal investigation.
Whether or not your deja vu experience originated with a dream or a previous involvement in another lifetime, what is important and should be acknowledged is the fact that your experience must have been successfully met and you will again go through the same successful outcome this time around. However, this may lead you to yet, another question, “why does this experience keep happening”.
From a spiritual point of view, re-occurring deja vu experiences will continue lifetime after lifetime until you understand and walk through the spiritual lesson. Therefore, it may be wise to intuit those issues that you have held inside since childhood. They may lead you to a better understanding of yourself. With understanding, we acquire the knowledge, compassion, and the wisdom to release the chains of bondage that we have placed upon ourselves.
The term “spiritual” may make some people as uncomfortable as the term “psychic” does for others, because these words tend to conjure up all sorts of images in our imagination related to those individuals who may have special powers beyond our own.
It is a shared opinion among the psychic communities that everyone is psychically endowed because the ability is a normal function of the mind. Like any organ or muscle in the body, it must be used in order to function at peak performance.
The basis of intelligent life is ones spirituality. Within our spirituality, beyond the layers of mind, is a wonderful, vast, reservoir of information of previous experience. Intuitive hunches, memories, and feelings surface to our consciousness through images, from the deep depths of the subconscious.
Deja vu experiences are, perhaps, those memories that remained dormant until you were ready to explore your inner self. Through the exploration of self, comes enlightenment of your spiritual purpose. It may also up all those self defeating issues that may have haunted you. The fact that you are having encounters of deja vu enables you to go forward in the synchronicities that they bring.
Currently Barbara Garcia is consulting via her private practice, through which she conducts exclusive readings for her clients, participates in paranormal investigations, teaches, and functions as an advisor for film and television. Garcia also counsels various areas of corporate strategic operations and employee management. Her website, http://www.Starmerge.com offers a wide range of services and an art gallery featuring her authentic psychic art automatism oil paintings from the 1970’s. Her clientele includes celebrities, business executives and law enforcement professionals, as well as private individuals who utilize her psychic information to enrich their lives.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Barbara_Garcia
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
The Nature of Deja Vu
The term déjà vu comes from the French and means, literally, "already seen." Those who have experienced the feeling describe it as an overwhelming sense of familiarity with something that shouldn't be familiar at all.
Déjà vu is a phenomenon that by its nature as an instantaneous event cannot be scientifically proven to exist. And yet it does. The occurrence of déjà vu is actually quite common, 70% of us experience it at least once in our lifetimes.
There are many theories regarding the nature of déjà vu experiences. In recent years déjà vu has been the subject of serious psychological and neurological research. The most likely explanation, according to scientists in these disciplines, is that déjà vu is an anomaly of memory.
Basically these theories link déjà vu with a misfiring of brain signals related to memory and recollection. Connections have been found between the experience of déjà vu and disorders such as schizophrenia and anxiety. People with these disorders are more likely to experience a déjà vu phenomenon than the rest of society.
The strongest pathological association of déjà vu is with temporal lobe epilepsy. People with this form of epilepsy often report experiencing déjà vu. This correlation has led some researchers to believe that the experience of déjà vu is a neurological anomaly related to improper electrical discharge in the brain.
Most people suffer a mild, non-pathological epileptic episode regularly. The sudden jolt, or hypnagogic jerk, A hypnagogic jerk is the experience of a large jolt, usually felt just before falling asleep and often described as an electric shock or falling sensation. It may be that a similar mild neurological abnormality in the form of a jolt to our memory functions can cause the experiences of déjà vu.
It is worth noting that people in the 15 to 25 year old age group report having far more instances of déjà vu. One speculation is that déjà vu is a kind of mental misfiring that occurs as the brain is maturing or as we have more life experiences.
The study of déjà vu experiences has until recently been relegated mostly to the fields of parapsychology and paranormal research.
It is interesting to note that the symptoms of temporal lobe epilepsy involve many experiences which are common elements of paranormal studies. Seventy-five percent of people diagnosed with temporal lobe epilepsy experience partial seizures which may include such features as: déjà vu, hallucinations of voices, music, smells, or tastes, feelings of unusual fear or joy, and the appearance of auras. Patients may also describe a sense of dissociation in which they report seeing their own body from the outside, commonly referred to as astral projection.
Far from discounting the study of the paranormal, the recent theories describing déjà vu experiences as electro-chemical misfiring in the brain, and the connections with temporal lobe epilepsy highlight the importance of continued research into paranormal phenomena.
Many of the subjects of paranormal research exist as such simply because mainstream science regimes deem them unworthy of study.
Déjà vu like many other experiences, (dreams, astral projection, precognition, thought healing, etc,) have been discounted or undervalued as a topic of serious research. Nonetheless these experiences are encountered by a vast number of people and therefore worthy of study for that reason alone.
We may find that focusing serious research efforts on subjects currently within the realm of the paranormal will lead to a greater understanding of "real world" problems. We may also find that while some myths may be shattered along the way, many of the topics of paranormal research will be proven, validated and absorbed into the world of the commonplace.
Author, Syndicated Columnist and Thought Energy Consultant Jeffry R. Palmer Ph.D. is the author of
"The 7 Day Psychic Development Course"http://the-psychic-detective.com/Seven-Day-Psychic-Development-Course.htm
Mr. Palmer’s articles and columns have been featured in several popular international magazines. A lifelong interest in spirituality, metaphysical, paranormal and esoteric studies has culminated in a series of new e-books by the author available now at: http://the-psychic-detective.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeffry_Palmer
Déjà vu is a phenomenon that by its nature as an instantaneous event cannot be scientifically proven to exist. And yet it does. The occurrence of déjà vu is actually quite common, 70% of us experience it at least once in our lifetimes.
There are many theories regarding the nature of déjà vu experiences. In recent years déjà vu has been the subject of serious psychological and neurological research. The most likely explanation, according to scientists in these disciplines, is that déjà vu is an anomaly of memory.
Basically these theories link déjà vu with a misfiring of brain signals related to memory and recollection. Connections have been found between the experience of déjà vu and disorders such as schizophrenia and anxiety. People with these disorders are more likely to experience a déjà vu phenomenon than the rest of society.
The strongest pathological association of déjà vu is with temporal lobe epilepsy. People with this form of epilepsy often report experiencing déjà vu. This correlation has led some researchers to believe that the experience of déjà vu is a neurological anomaly related to improper electrical discharge in the brain.
Most people suffer a mild, non-pathological epileptic episode regularly. The sudden jolt, or hypnagogic jerk, A hypnagogic jerk is the experience of a large jolt, usually felt just before falling asleep and often described as an electric shock or falling sensation. It may be that a similar mild neurological abnormality in the form of a jolt to our memory functions can cause the experiences of déjà vu.
It is worth noting that people in the 15 to 25 year old age group report having far more instances of déjà vu. One speculation is that déjà vu is a kind of mental misfiring that occurs as the brain is maturing or as we have more life experiences.
The study of déjà vu experiences has until recently been relegated mostly to the fields of parapsychology and paranormal research.
It is interesting to note that the symptoms of temporal lobe epilepsy involve many experiences which are common elements of paranormal studies. Seventy-five percent of people diagnosed with temporal lobe epilepsy experience partial seizures which may include such features as: déjà vu, hallucinations of voices, music, smells, or tastes, feelings of unusual fear or joy, and the appearance of auras. Patients may also describe a sense of dissociation in which they report seeing their own body from the outside, commonly referred to as astral projection.
Far from discounting the study of the paranormal, the recent theories describing déjà vu experiences as electro-chemical misfiring in the brain, and the connections with temporal lobe epilepsy highlight the importance of continued research into paranormal phenomena.
Many of the subjects of paranormal research exist as such simply because mainstream science regimes deem them unworthy of study.
Déjà vu like many other experiences, (dreams, astral projection, precognition, thought healing, etc,) have been discounted or undervalued as a topic of serious research. Nonetheless these experiences are encountered by a vast number of people and therefore worthy of study for that reason alone.
We may find that focusing serious research efforts on subjects currently within the realm of the paranormal will lead to a greater understanding of "real world" problems. We may also find that while some myths may be shattered along the way, many of the topics of paranormal research will be proven, validated and absorbed into the world of the commonplace.
Author, Syndicated Columnist and Thought Energy Consultant Jeffry R. Palmer Ph.D. is the author of
"The 7 Day Psychic Development Course"http://the-psychic-detective.com/Seven-Day-Psychic-Development-Course.htm
Mr. Palmer’s articles and columns have been featured in several popular international magazines. A lifelong interest in spirituality, metaphysical, paranormal and esoteric studies has culminated in a series of new e-books by the author available now at: http://the-psychic-detective.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeffry_Palmer
Friday, August 15, 2008
Parapsychology
Scientists are not the only ones attempting to explain the origins of deja vu. Mystics and parapsychologists are also looking for explanations.
The most common paranormal explanations for deja vu include extrasensory perception, clairvoyance, precognition and past life experiences. Some also attribute the feeling to the shared mind, the concept that all of humanity can tap into a larger consciousness that covers the wealth of human knowledge.
Many of these theories are similar and hard to differentiate when discussing paranormal explanations of deja vu. Extrasensory perception, or ESP, is the theory that we have a “sixth sense” that allows us to see through time and space differently than others do. In comic book terms, this would “spidey sense,” an unexplained warning about things we are doing or about to do.
This is very similar to clairvoyance which allows a person to see events at a remote distance and precognition which allows a person to see events before they happen. All three are used as paranormal explanations for the feelings of deja vu. Some experts would argue that dreaming of an event before it happens can be a form of precognition and lead to deja vu.
Other experts argue that dreams allow us to access long-term memory and make it active in our short term memory. Thus, a person experiencing deja vu may have no conscious memory of a similar experience and may be unable to explain why the feeling persists, but may have a rational past experience that leads to the feeling.
Another common explanation paranormal researchers use to explain deja vu is the past life experience. With this theory, experts say that the feeling is based on an unconscious memory related to one or more experiences in a past life. Their basic conclusion: you get the strange feeling you have done this before because you have.
The past life explanation relies on the concept that most people are unaware, at least consciously, of the experiences of their past lives and that certain moments in current existence can trigger those memories. Proponents of this point of view often look at deja vu experiences as a way to tap into your past lives and gain insight into what they might have been or done in a previous life.
The most common paranormal explanations for deja vu include extrasensory perception, clairvoyance, precognition and past life experiences. Some also attribute the feeling to the shared mind, the concept that all of humanity can tap into a larger consciousness that covers the wealth of human knowledge.
Many of these theories are similar and hard to differentiate when discussing paranormal explanations of deja vu. Extrasensory perception, or ESP, is the theory that we have a “sixth sense” that allows us to see through time and space differently than others do. In comic book terms, this would “spidey sense,” an unexplained warning about things we are doing or about to do.
This is very similar to clairvoyance which allows a person to see events at a remote distance and precognition which allows a person to see events before they happen. All three are used as paranormal explanations for the feelings of deja vu. Some experts would argue that dreaming of an event before it happens can be a form of precognition and lead to deja vu.
Other experts argue that dreams allow us to access long-term memory and make it active in our short term memory. Thus, a person experiencing deja vu may have no conscious memory of a similar experience and may be unable to explain why the feeling persists, but may have a rational past experience that leads to the feeling.
Another common explanation paranormal researchers use to explain deja vu is the past life experience. With this theory, experts say that the feeling is based on an unconscious memory related to one or more experiences in a past life. Their basic conclusion: you get the strange feeling you have done this before because you have.
The past life explanation relies on the concept that most people are unaware, at least consciously, of the experiences of their past lives and that certain moments in current existence can trigger those memories. Proponents of this point of view often look at deja vu experiences as a way to tap into your past lives and gain insight into what they might have been or done in a previous life.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Déjà Vu and Disorders
Many scientist believe that deja vu is a result of a chemical reaction in the brain, either triggered by sensory input and recalling a memory, like smelling rose perfume and remembering a funeral, or by minor seizures in the temporal lobe of the brain.
Though there is still no indication directly of the cause of deja vu, scientists have been able to document an association between epilepsy that effects the temporal lobe and deja vu. Often, patients with this from of epilepsy will report that they experienced a strong sense of deja vu immediately before the onset of an epileptic attack. Other patients have reported that experienced deja vu while in the midst of seizure activity.
However, 70 percent of people claim to have had a deja vu experience at some point and scientists are not willing to diagnose them all with some form of epilepsy or other brain disorder. However, some will acknowledge that as much as 65 percent of the population has occasional non-pathological epileptic seizures, like the full body muscle jerk as one is falling asleep.
Scientists have also been able to associate deja vu experiences with anxiety and schizophrenia, but argue that the mostly likely cause of deja vu is a mix-up with memory.This theory is based in the idea that people experiencing deja vu can often not provide details of when they experienced this event, feeling or place before. It is also argued that sometimes the feeling of deja vu itself cannot be explained later. The person who had the feeling may not even been able to explain what it was that they had already seen or done. Scientists argue that this is evidence that the brain is playing tricks on itself.
It has also been argued that deja vu may be a side effect of mind-altering drugs distorting a person’s sense of reality and time. Scientists have been able to replicate deja vu in the laboratory using recreational drugs and pharmaceuticals designed to treat other conditions, like the common cold.
One final theory, though incredibly hard to quantify, is the concept that deja vu is caused by the brain reacting to two different stimuli inputs a fraction of a second apart from one another. In this theory, the concept is raised that perhaps if the optic nerves misfired. One eye provides the brain with an image and the same image is transmitted to the brain with a miniscule delay from the other eye, confusing the brain into thinking that it has experienced this event previously.
This theory though scientifically sound cannot be tested because we do not have the technology to measure brain reactions in the tiny amount of time involved. Any experiment trying to delve into this theory would be hampered by the amount of time it would take researchers to provide duplicate images to the brain and by the subject’s awareness that the delay is occurring.
Though there is still no indication directly of the cause of deja vu, scientists have been able to document an association between epilepsy that effects the temporal lobe and deja vu. Often, patients with this from of epilepsy will report that they experienced a strong sense of deja vu immediately before the onset of an epileptic attack. Other patients have reported that experienced deja vu while in the midst of seizure activity.
However, 70 percent of people claim to have had a deja vu experience at some point and scientists are not willing to diagnose them all with some form of epilepsy or other brain disorder. However, some will acknowledge that as much as 65 percent of the population has occasional non-pathological epileptic seizures, like the full body muscle jerk as one is falling asleep.
Scientists have also been able to associate deja vu experiences with anxiety and schizophrenia, but argue that the mostly likely cause of deja vu is a mix-up with memory.This theory is based in the idea that people experiencing deja vu can often not provide details of when they experienced this event, feeling or place before. It is also argued that sometimes the feeling of deja vu itself cannot be explained later. The person who had the feeling may not even been able to explain what it was that they had already seen or done. Scientists argue that this is evidence that the brain is playing tricks on itself.
It has also been argued that deja vu may be a side effect of mind-altering drugs distorting a person’s sense of reality and time. Scientists have been able to replicate deja vu in the laboratory using recreational drugs and pharmaceuticals designed to treat other conditions, like the common cold.
One final theory, though incredibly hard to quantify, is the concept that deja vu is caused by the brain reacting to two different stimuli inputs a fraction of a second apart from one another. In this theory, the concept is raised that perhaps if the optic nerves misfired. One eye provides the brain with an image and the same image is transmitted to the brain with a miniscule delay from the other eye, confusing the brain into thinking that it has experienced this event previously.
This theory though scientifically sound cannot be tested because we do not have the technology to measure brain reactions in the tiny amount of time involved. Any experiment trying to delve into this theory would be hampered by the amount of time it would take researchers to provide duplicate images to the brain and by the subject’s awareness that the delay is occurring.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Types of Déjà Vu
Deja vu falls into three main types: I’ve seen this before, I’ve been here before and I’ve done this before.
Many people dismiss the first type of deja vu, the “I’ve seen this before” type, without much thought. Via video and pictures, it is not uncommon to feel a familiarity with places that we have never been. There is even a current television commercial that references this experience. A man entering his hotel room for the first time tells his wife, “I’ve seen this before.”
The man’s reaction in the commercial is typical of those experiencing deja vu. He shakes his head as though trying to recall the moment when this previous memory comes from. His wife, scoffing, tells him that of course he has, he took the virtual hotel tour online.
All deja vu is not this easy to explain away, but the reaction can be very similar. Reactions to the first type of deja vu are usually mild confusion and disbelief, if it is recognized at all. Some people simply do not even acknowledge the feeling that they have seen or heard this before.
People are much more likely to react to the second form of deja vu, the “I’ve been here before” type. This often occurs when a person first visits a new place. Though it can be a reaction to having seen photos of the place before or reading particularly accurate descriptions, often then is a trick of the mind based in the hopes and planning for a special event.
For example, a person may never have been to Ireland, but anticipates emerald green fields and lush forests from the travel brochures and years of hearing about the island. He might then crest a hill in Ireland to find himself remembering a site he has never seen before. This may be because the brain anticipates that is what Ireland will look like.
Perhaps the most disconcerting form of deja vu and hardest to explain is the “I’ve done this before” type. Although there are some theories that this can occur when the brain takes an amalgamation of previous memories and meshes them with its perception of what is happening in the moment, there is no scientific evidence to support the theory.
This type of deja vu is usually accompanied by the feeling that these precise actions have been done before and are being repeated with the exact same result.
Many people dismiss the first type of deja vu, the “I’ve seen this before” type, without much thought. Via video and pictures, it is not uncommon to feel a familiarity with places that we have never been. There is even a current television commercial that references this experience. A man entering his hotel room for the first time tells his wife, “I’ve seen this before.”
The man’s reaction in the commercial is typical of those experiencing deja vu. He shakes his head as though trying to recall the moment when this previous memory comes from. His wife, scoffing, tells him that of course he has, he took the virtual hotel tour online.
All deja vu is not this easy to explain away, but the reaction can be very similar. Reactions to the first type of deja vu are usually mild confusion and disbelief, if it is recognized at all. Some people simply do not even acknowledge the feeling that they have seen or heard this before.
People are much more likely to react to the second form of deja vu, the “I’ve been here before” type. This often occurs when a person first visits a new place. Though it can be a reaction to having seen photos of the place before or reading particularly accurate descriptions, often then is a trick of the mind based in the hopes and planning for a special event.
For example, a person may never have been to Ireland, but anticipates emerald green fields and lush forests from the travel brochures and years of hearing about the island. He might then crest a hill in Ireland to find himself remembering a site he has never seen before. This may be because the brain anticipates that is what Ireland will look like.
Perhaps the most disconcerting form of deja vu and hardest to explain is the “I’ve done this before” type. Although there are some theories that this can occur when the brain takes an amalgamation of previous memories and meshes them with its perception of what is happening in the moment, there is no scientific evidence to support the theory.
This type of deja vu is usually accompanied by the feeling that these precise actions have been done before and are being repeated with the exact same result.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
How Déjà Vu Works
Ultimately, deja vu is a sensation or feeling that the person experiencing cannot explain. The sensation implies familiarity with the current situation and can cause unease.
Without the accompanying sensation of unease, deja vu is little more than feeling unusually familiar with the situation around you. That can be a good feeling, such as the reassurance that the workplace operates the same way every day, or in an unexpected place or unusual circumstance, deja vu can be frightening.
The feeling of deja vu can be comforting. Many people face an irrational fear when dealing with the unknown and deja vu can actually be a comfort to them. It may be the mind’s way of saying, “You’ve done this before. There is nothing to be afraid of.” Most people do not even register this type of deja vu as it happens daily when we are at work with repetitive tasks.
On the other hand, most people find the feeling of deja vu unsettling. This is largely due to the efforts to recall the specifics of when they have seen this before. When were the events the same as they are now? When did I experience this conversation, this place, or this activity? This need to identify why we feel a certain way creates an unease and therefore makes the feeling of deja vu seem almost sinister. This may be derived from logical brain’s need to know.
In reality, deja vu is just a feeling, something that can be brushed away as easily or with as much difficulty as the person experiencing it chooses. It can be a subject of wonderment, trying to figure out where the feeling came from, or met with a simple thanks for the connection between the current activity and some other time.
It may be a misfunction of the brain or evidence of greater mental capacities that science has not learned to tap. Deja vu might be a leftover of human instincts, a group memory, or a simple chemical imbalance in the brain. It may be the brain’s way of dealing with multiple stimuli at once, either from delays along a neural pathway, or from resurfacing memories. Whatever it is, deja vu is interesting to study and interesting to experience.
Without the accompanying sensation of unease, deja vu is little more than feeling unusually familiar with the situation around you. That can be a good feeling, such as the reassurance that the workplace operates the same way every day, or in an unexpected place or unusual circumstance, deja vu can be frightening.
The feeling of deja vu can be comforting. Many people face an irrational fear when dealing with the unknown and deja vu can actually be a comfort to them. It may be the mind’s way of saying, “You’ve done this before. There is nothing to be afraid of.” Most people do not even register this type of deja vu as it happens daily when we are at work with repetitive tasks.
On the other hand, most people find the feeling of deja vu unsettling. This is largely due to the efforts to recall the specifics of when they have seen this before. When were the events the same as they are now? When did I experience this conversation, this place, or this activity? This need to identify why we feel a certain way creates an unease and therefore makes the feeling of deja vu seem almost sinister. This may be derived from logical brain’s need to know.
In reality, deja vu is just a feeling, something that can be brushed away as easily or with as much difficulty as the person experiencing it chooses. It can be a subject of wonderment, trying to figure out where the feeling came from, or met with a simple thanks for the connection between the current activity and some other time.
It may be a misfunction of the brain or evidence of greater mental capacities that science has not learned to tap. Deja vu might be a leftover of human instincts, a group memory, or a simple chemical imbalance in the brain. It may be the brain’s way of dealing with multiple stimuli at once, either from delays along a neural pathway, or from resurfacing memories. Whatever it is, deja vu is interesting to study and interesting to experience.
Monday, August 11, 2008
What Is Déjà Vu?
Deja vu is that feeling you have done this exact thing before, with people around you saying and doing the exact same things. This is not the same as remembering a time when something similar happened or a repetitive task that happens routinely.
Literally, deja vu is French meaning to see again, but the most common experience with deja vu is to feel like you are doing something you have already done once.
Though the feeling of deja vu has fascinated scientists around the world, no one is sure of the exact causes or even physical reactions that create the feeling. This is at least partially due to the fact that the feeling of deja vu is not something easily replicated in a laboratory for additional study. Therefore, much of the study of deja vu is hypothetical.
The situations in which people experience deja vu can be extremely varied. Sometimes, this experience is associated with dreaming of the event or even lucid dreaming, a semi-conscious state in which we allow ourselves to project or “dream” about an upcoming event.
People can be so focused, or worried, about an upcoming event that the minds plays through a multitude of scenarios prior to the event, filling in the details with the most likely reactions of other people based on our past experience with them. When the event actually occurs, it can feel like, been there and done that, because in our minds, we have. This will usually happen with familiar people in unfamiliar places.
Deja vu can also occur when a person’s mind fills in the blanks regarding an experience before they actually happen. This can happen because you are so familiar with the people around you that you anticipate how they are going to react and imagine that you have heard their reaction before, or perhaps have heard an identical reaction in a similar situation. This is more likely to occur in every day situations when the outcome is predictable.
Other scientists argue that deja vu is a form of mixed memory when a scent or a portion of a current moment calls to mind a memory. The memory meshes with the current events and the brain is confused into feeling that it has experienced these sensations before.
Although there is some evidence to indicate that deja vu could be associated with a mild form of epilepsy in the temporal lobe of the brain and minor seizures, it is very common and not generally indicative of larger brain problems. Most of the time, deja vu falls into the category of “Wow, that was weird” and then people move on.
Literally, deja vu is French meaning to see again, but the most common experience with deja vu is to feel like you are doing something you have already done once.
Though the feeling of deja vu has fascinated scientists around the world, no one is sure of the exact causes or even physical reactions that create the feeling. This is at least partially due to the fact that the feeling of deja vu is not something easily replicated in a laboratory for additional study. Therefore, much of the study of deja vu is hypothetical.
The situations in which people experience deja vu can be extremely varied. Sometimes, this experience is associated with dreaming of the event or even lucid dreaming, a semi-conscious state in which we allow ourselves to project or “dream” about an upcoming event.
People can be so focused, or worried, about an upcoming event that the minds plays through a multitude of scenarios prior to the event, filling in the details with the most likely reactions of other people based on our past experience with them. When the event actually occurs, it can feel like, been there and done that, because in our minds, we have. This will usually happen with familiar people in unfamiliar places.
Deja vu can also occur when a person’s mind fills in the blanks regarding an experience before they actually happen. This can happen because you are so familiar with the people around you that you anticipate how they are going to react and imagine that you have heard their reaction before, or perhaps have heard an identical reaction in a similar situation. This is more likely to occur in every day situations when the outcome is predictable.
Other scientists argue that deja vu is a form of mixed memory when a scent or a portion of a current moment calls to mind a memory. The memory meshes with the current events and the brain is confused into feeling that it has experienced these sensations before.
Although there is some evidence to indicate that deja vu could be associated with a mild form of epilepsy in the temporal lobe of the brain and minor seizures, it is very common and not generally indicative of larger brain problems. Most of the time, deja vu falls into the category of “Wow, that was weird” and then people move on.
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