What is dejavous?

miamiamia · #1 01-19-2007, 06:26 PM

I read all kinds of stuff on the net about it, most people seem to jump onto the psychic bandwagon. I'm not sure what to believe though it has interested me for quite some time. The only one that makes sense to me is the big bang/collapse theory where it's just happened so many times that instinct/memory kicks in on some level.

Thoughts?

scottkris · #2 01-19-2007, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by miamiamia

Thoughts?

I'm going to guess this gets moved...

Cunctator · #3 01-19-2007, 06:33 PM

The term is actually déjà vu, the French for "already seen".

miamiamia · #4 01-19-2007, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottkris

I'm going to guess this gets moved...

Settle down. Why do people feel the need to be a smart alec on forums? I'm learning my way round the net, forums and so forth, didn't see a search function to search the forums. No need to carry on, if you don't have thoughts on the topic why post.

Mangetout · #5 01-19-2007, 06:34 PM

The best natural explanation I've heard for Deja Vu is that the same stimulus can be processed by the brain through two distinct paths; one of them reaches completion slightly before the other, so that when the second one arrives at its conclusion, there is already an unnervingly similar sensation in place, which may be mistaken for an older memory.

miamiamia · #6 01-19-2007, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cunctator

The term is actually déjà vu, the French for "already seen".

Yes I'm aware of the various spelling and am aware of what it means. Though why it happens is what baffles me and was interested in reading other people's opinions on the whys and so forth as there are so many different theories.

garygnu · #7 01-19-2007, 06:36 PM

The best one I've heard is that déjà vu is the brain's equivilent of the "record" function and it's "playback" function are both running at the same time, so that you're making memories and remembering them instantly.
The Wikipedia notes this theory (along with similar theories) is currently untestable. We just can't get to that level of neuron-fire measurements.
As scottkris implies, nobody knows for sure, so a factual answer is impossible right now, so this thread will probably end up in IMHO.

miamiamia · #8 01-19-2007, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mangetout

The best natural explanation I've heard for Deja Vu is that the same stimulus can be processed by the brain through two distinct paths; one of them reaches completion slightly before the other, so that when the second one arrives at its conclusion, there is already an unnervingly similar sensation in place, which may be mistaken for an older memory.

Yes I've discussed that possibility with friends and agree that could be the case, it sounds quite viable.

miamiamia · #9 01-19-2007, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by garygnu

The best one I've heard is that déjà vu is the brain's equivilent of the "record" function and it's "playback" function are both running at the same time, so that you're making memories and remembering them instantly.
The Wikipedia notes this theory (along with similar theories) is currently untestable.
As scottkris implies, nobody knows for sure, so a factual answer is impossible right now, so this thread will probably end up in IMHO.

Well that's one I haven't heard before, quite interesting.

Shagnasty · #10 01-19-2007, 06:39 PM

Guests can't search and I don't think anyone was actually making fun of you. This board just has an undercurrent of snarkiness but we are moderated well and we all generally know the lines. Stick around and you will see.

There has actually been some real scientific work on this issue. Nothing is definitive but it looks like some Déjà vu experiences are an artifact of the way the brain function (or malfunction). The link I am giving you is very high level but there are some interesting links at the bottom.

"Déjà vu has been firmly associated with temporal-lobe epilepsy. Reportedly, déjà vu can occur just prior to a temporal-lobe epileptic attack. People suffering an epileptic seizure of this kind can experience déjà vu during the actual seizure activity or in the moments between convulsions."

http://people.howstuffworks.com/question657.htm

Mangetout · #11 01-19-2007, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by miamiamia

Yes I'm aware of the various spelling...

You mean, the right one, and all the others?

Sevastopol · #12 01-19-2007, 07:00 PM

Deja vous, French for sock-puppet.

iano · #13 01-19-2007, 07:06 PM

Does anyone else experience déjà vu as feeling that you have already remembered that you have already experienced this scene? In other words, it's once-recursive.

Little Nemo · #14 01-19-2007, 07:10 PM

I've heard the same theory that garygnu mentioned. The idea is that sometimes external stimuli get processed through the part of your brain that normally handles recall. So in effect you're "remembering" something as you are experiencing it.

MrSquishy · #15 01-19-2007, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iano

Does anyone else experience déjà vu as feeling that you have already remembered that you have already experienced this scene? In other words, it's once-recursive.

Yes, I've definitely had (double?) déjà vu before, where I'm thinking "this is happening again?!". But it's not always that way.

Spectre of Pithecanthropus · #16 01-19-2007, 07:23 PM

It's an adjective used to describe people who frequently dejaviate.

don't ask · #17 01-19-2007, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iano

Does anyone else experience déjà vu as feeling that you have already remembered that you have already experienced this scene? In other words, it's once-recursive.

Haven't I already answered that?

don't ask · #18 01-19-2007, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iano

Does anyone else experience déjà vu as feeling that you have already remembered that you have already experienced this scene? In other words, it's once-recursive.

Yes I can distinctly remember one incident, my family thought I was goin crazybacuse I thought I knew everything that was going to be said. Hard to describe.

scottkris · #19 01-19-2007, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by miamiamia

Settle down. Why do people feel the need to be a smart alec on forums? I'm learning my way round the net, forums and so forth, didn't see a search function to search the forums. No need to carry on, if you don't have thoughts on the topic why post.

Why post...'cause I can.
Seriously, I forgot guests cannot search. I really think that since this is "paranormal" it should be in GD or IMHO or MPSIMS...

As others after me have said, this forum can get a bit "snarky" and (I believe but of course may be wrong) that the "paranormal" or "religious" doesn't really belong in GD.

And this is from a Christian...but that is a whole new can-o-worms.

scottkris · #20 01-19-2007, 08:41 PM

[quote=scottkris] doesn't really belong in GD.
{QUOTE]
I meant "GQ".

I missed the 5 minute limit.

snailboy · #21 01-19-2007, 08:55 PM

I've experienced deja vu and after a while remembered the previous experience that made me have it. So why can't it just be that you have already experienced the situation, or certain aspects of it, but can't quite remember it?

KarlGauss · #22 01-19-2007, 09:14 PM

I've always wondered whether there isn't a brain center or pathway from which the normal sensation of "oh, yeah, I remember this" originates. In other words, the sensation or feeling of remembering something is independent of memory, although normally it does get activated when we experience something that has the same characteristics as something we've experienced or witnessed before.

If the center or pathway for the "I remember this" feeling is truly independent of memory, then it's also easy to imagine how it might be triggered or get stimulated independently of memory. This is consistent with the above-mentioned phenomenon of déjà vu being a common component of certain types of epilepsy.

Again, all this is me just wondering, speculating. In the vernacular of the Board - a WAG!

Shagnasty · #23 01-19-2007, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snailboy

I've experienced deja vu and after a while remembered the previous experience that made me have it. So why can't it just be that you have already experienced the situation, or certain aspects of it, but can't quite remember it?

Possibly although many times it is associated with a place a person has definitely never been before such a foreign country. That doesn't rule out subliminal familiarity through TV or magazines however.

I am fairly certain that some of mine were triggered through dreams that I barely remembered but were similar.

Fear Itself · #24 01-19-2007, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by miamiamia

Why do people feel the need to be a smart alec on forums?

Oh brother, are you in the wrong place.

clayton_e · #25 01-19-2007, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrSquishy

Yes, I've definitely had (double?) déjà vu before, where I'm thinking "this is happening again?!". But it's not always that way.

I've had something like this.. I guess. A thought or event that triggers a strong deja vu but not back to one event... rather just back to another time that I had deja vu over the same topic (as in, the topic isn't really what the deja vu is so much about, rather the several deja vus I've had over the years are).

I sometimes can even kinda tell when the deja vus were from... When I get it I have distinct feelings and memories from the mid to late 90s.. though they aren't really much of the deja vu, just floating memories around it.. and again from 2002 or so. The thing is... like a dream from last night I can't remember the trigger.

samclem · #26 01-19-2007, 10:31 PM

Since there is likely no "correct" answer to the OP, let's move this to Great Debates.

And I'm sure that we've had this question before. Oh, well....

samclem

_{Too easy}

Bryan Ekers · #27 01-20-2007, 02:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by miamiamia

Why do people feel the need to be a smart alec on forums?

If I may, this particular board is full of people who are in active competition to see who can be the wittiest. The result can be extremely funny, kinda like natural selection for smart-alecking (or as I like to call it, Darwitticism). I think you'll find it much better than, say:

Guest: [asks question]
Respondent 1: Its becuase your a noob!
Respondent 2: Lol. Yeah, noobtown.
R1: *5's* R2
R3: I bet the noob is only asking because he misses his mommy!
R4: U R so right!
R3: ROFLMAO
R5: Can we try answering his question, please?
R1: Shut up, noob-lover!
R2: Yeah, you and the noob should get married and have noobkids!
R3: LOL!

...and so forth.

Sapo · #28 01-20-2007, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bryan Ekers

If I may, this particular board is full of people who are in active competition to see who can be the wittiest. The result can be extremely funny, kinda like natural selection for smart-alecking (or as I like to call it, Darwitticism). I think you'll find it much better than, say:

Dorkwinism?