[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2018\/06\/what-is-deja-vu\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2018\/06\/what-is-deja-vu\/","headline":"What Is D\u00e9j\u00e0 Vu? Harmless Sensation or Neurological Problem?","name":"What Is D\u00e9j\u00e0 Vu? Harmless Sensation or Neurological Problem?","description":"What is d\u00e9j\u00e0 vu? That feeling of having been in the same situation, but doubting it's true. Here's when d\u00e9j\u00e0 vu is normal, and when to see a doctor.","datePublished":"2018-06-22","dateModified":"2018-08-29","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/neurosurgery-regions","name":"Neurosurgery","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/neurosurgery-regions","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/neurosurgery\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/deja-vu.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/deja-vu.jpg","height":327,"width":754},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2018\/06\/what-is-deja-vu\/","about":["Neurosurgery and Brain Health"],"wordCount":383,"keywords":["neuroscience","UPMC Epilepsy Center"],"articleBody":"D\u00e9j\u00e0 vu is that feeling of already having experienced a particular situation. While it feels familiar, you doubt the feeling is accurate.In French, d\u00e9j\u00e0 vu means “already seen” and many people have experienced it. But what causes d\u00e9j\u00e0 vu and why does it happen?Just experiencing d\u00e9j\u00e0 vu isn’t usually a problem in itself. But if it’s happening frequently or is a change from past experience, it’s worth getting a neurological evaluation. To learn more about UPMC’s expert epilepsy care, contact UPMC Comprehensive Epilepsy Center.\u00a0What Causes D\u00e9j\u00e0 Vu?Researchers don’t fully understand the neuroscience of d\u00e9j\u00e0 vu, as it’s difficult to replicate in a laboratory or research environment. One theory is that a person may feel this sensation when they see or do something similar to a previous experience that they can\u2019t recall.A study by the University of St. Andrews found that d\u00e9j\u00e0 vu is associated with the conflict monitoring and resolution part of the brain, not the memory part. While studying the neuroscience of d\u00e9j\u00e0 vu, researchers theorize that the sensation might be a way for the brain to detect memory conflicts.The Neuroscience of D\u00e9j\u00e0 VuBut d\u00e9j\u00e0 vu may signal a neurological problem. Someone can have epileptic seizures including temporal lobe seizures, with the only sign or symptom being a feeling of d\u00e9j\u00e0 vu. Some older adults with dementia experience chronic d\u00e9j\u00e0 vu as a symptom.If d\u00e9j\u00e0 vu occurs frequently and you\u2019re concerned about the cause, here are a few questions to consider:Does your d\u00e9j\u00e0 vu occur at least a few times each month?Do you have other symptoms after experiencing d\u00e9j\u00e0 vu, such as losing consciousness, feeling your heart race, unconscious chewing, or fumbling?Do you visualize abnormal scenes or have strange memories that feel like dreams during d\u00e9j\u00e0 vu?If the answer to any of these is yes, talk to your doctor as there may be a neurological issue that should be evaluated.Just experiencing d\u00e9j\u00e0 vu isn’t usually a problem in itself. But if it’s happening frequently or is a change from past experience, it’s worth getting a neurological evaluation from your doctor. "},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2018","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2018\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"06","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2018\/\/06\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"What Is D\u00e9j\u00e0 Vu? Harmless Sensation or Neurological Problem?","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2018\/06\/what-is-deja-vu\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]