Explaining Why It's Not Just Déjà Vu (All Over Again)

A new study reveals the psychology behind the phenomena

By Rachel Durfee Posted 11.24.2008 at 12:28 pm 8 Comments

Cleary worked off the idea that memory is often stored in our brain as individual elements, like a jigsaw puzzle. When you fit all the pieces together correctly, your brain produces a complete, coherent memory. Oftentimes though, if certain elements of a new situation match certain elements of a previously stored memory, your brain will mix up the puzzle and convince you that you have actually experienced the present situation before. The more the elements overlap, the bigger the sense of déjà vu.

The second prong in the study was to find out what these trigger elements are. Cleary designed an experiment in which she gave volunteers a list of words to study. Afterward, they were given a word-recognition test. Some of the words had been on the list, some not, and some simply resembled words on the list (for example "lady" in place of "eighty"). When confronted with a new, similar-sounding word, subjects identified a sense of familiarity with it, even when they could not remember what the original, similar word on the list was. A parallel experiment using geometric shapes instead of words led to similar results. Cleary's conclusion is that visual and audio fragments are able to create the sensation that an entire scene has been viewed before, even though it is actually brand new.

"Many parallels between explanations of déjà vu and theories of human recognition memory exist," Cleary concludes. "Theories of familiarity-based recognition and the laboratory methods used to study it may be especially useful for elucidating the processes underlying déjà vu experiences."

Maybe science is catching up, after all. But don't worry. Have another martini and you won't remember a thing.

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8 Comments

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Chipper Smoltz

11/24/08 at 7:55 pm

I've read somewhere that we only utilize a small portion of our brain in processing things and stuff. Has anyone realized what the other parts of the brain do or what's it for?

Maybe in time, as we humans maximize the use of all of the brain as a whole, we would have super psychic powers. hehehe

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M0D3S7

11/25/08 at 6:24 am

^^ LOL@That guy

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denimwizard

11/25/08 at 9:08 am

The idea that humans only use a small portion of their brains was proposed in the early 1900's. This myth has been supported through out our culture even in current times. The truth is we know alot of the functions of the human brain and yes we use ALL of our brain in these functions. My best suggestion is for every one to at least read a Neurobiology book or Neuroscience book to get an idea of how the human brain works. Back in the early 1900's they did not have the technology for brain mapping and imaging like we do to day. PET scans, fMRI's, using radio tracers was not something with in their grasp. We have found more and more using these techniques and others in how the brain works.

Your Friendly NeuroScientist

Denimwizard

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RedFoxOne

11/25/08 at 9:23 am

Wow that is truly amazing. Finally one of lifes great mysteries solved!

www.privacy.de.tc

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Charles Parsons

from Frankfort, Kentucky

11/25/08 at 9:35 am

What does it mean when you have Deja Vu and instead of just getting a familiar feeling, you "remember" in a split second a whole different set of events following that moment into the near future?

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MetaMacGuffin

11/25/08 at 1:56 pm

I feel like I've read this article before.

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jaredfake

11/25/08 at 2:31 pm

LOLLERSKATES!!!

This article is weak. I am sure when people seem to experience Deja vu they are experiencing events and not words from a list or music in a club, but rather, the combination of vivid images of movement and sound that can lead to predictions. Recognition implies that one has experienced that event before. It is to recall memory(ability to store, retain and recall information*)(knowledge or experience). If something has never happened, could it be considered a memory? or is it a thought?

(*)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memory

LOLOLOL LOLLERSKATES!!!

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Chibi

from Seattle, Washington

11/25/08 at 6:58 pm

I'm afraid that the "we use only a small part of our mind" theory has been long refuted. If you concentrate on more than one thing, the quality of those activities suffers.

Madame Rosa Cafe:
We already knew you were coming: here's your favorite table. Your meal is prepared, and thanks in advance for the large tip.

She would make a fortune if she was real.

/End strange but titillating post