The Nature of Deja Vu
Dj Vu
by Dr. Jeffry R. Palmer Ph.D.
The term dj 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.
Dj 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 dj vu is actually quite common, 70% of us experience it at least once in our lifetimes.
There are many theories regarding the nature of dj vu experiences.
In recent years dj vu has been the subject of serious psychological and neurological research. The most likely explanation, according to scientists in these disciplines, is that dj vu is an anomaly of memory.
Basically these theories link dj vu with a misfiring of brain signals related to memory and recollection. Connections have been found between the experience of dj vu and disorders such as schizophrenia and anxiety. People with these disorders are more likely to experience a dj vu phenomenon than the rest of society.
The strongest pathological association of dj vu is with temporal lobe epilepsy. People with this form of epilepsy often report experiencing dj vu. This correlation has led some researchers to believe that the experience of dj 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 dj vu.
It is worth noting that people in the 15 to 25 year old age group report having far more instances of dj vu. One speculation is that dj vu is a kind of mental misfiring that occurs as the brain is maturing or as we have more life experiences.
The study of
dj 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: dj 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 dj 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.
Dj 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.
About the Author
Dr.Jeffry R. Palmer Ph.D. Is the author of "Judo for the Soul - The Art of Psychic Self Defence", as well as numerous articles and papers relating to metaphysics and the study of paranormal phenomena. Further information about Mr.Palmer and his books can be found at http://the-psychic-detective.com
Written by: Dr. Jeffry R. Palmer Ph.D.
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