The Mystery of Déjà Vu

This episode explores the strange and familiar feeling known as déjà vu, when we sense that we’ve lived a moment before. The episode begins with historical and cultural interpretations — from reincarnation and premonition to philosophical reflections on time — before turning to modern science.

Listeners learn how the brain’s temporal lobe and memory circuits can misfire, creating a false sense of familiarity. Déjà vu may occur when the brain’s recognition system triggers without a matching memory, or when sensory information is processed twice out of sync — a “mental echo.”

The episode also links déjà vu to memory patterns, time perception, and psychological states such as stress, fatigue, or exposure to new environments. Ultimately, it presents déjà vu as both a neuroscientific glitch and a beautiful reminder of the mind’s complexity — a fleeting moment where science meets mystery.