It is thought to be the equivalent of a small brain glitch, with two streams of thought colliding.

The phrase literally translated from French to mean already seen.

The first use of the phrase in the scientific world was from F.L.

Reflection in metal (brass)

Jonathan Knowles / Getty Images

Arnaud, a neurologist who proposed to use it at a meeting of theSociete Medico-Psychologique.

How Does Deja Vu Happen?

A key feature is that the person realizes that they have not actually seen this before.

Typically, the more grey matter a brain has, the more effective it is.

What Causes the Deja Vu Feeling?

Stress and Fatigue

People who are tired and/or stressed often report episodes of deja vu.

This is thought to be because fatigue and stress typically affect both long- and short-term memory.

Excess Dopamine

A hypothesis is that excess amounts ofdopaminemay be implicated in experiences of deja vu.

Penn Medicine.Feel like youve been here before?

It might be deja vu.

2001;8(5):460-462. doi:10.1054/jocn.2000.0810

Brown AS.The deja vu illusion.Current Directions in Psychological Science.

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