Sleep remains a mystery to even to the scientific community. We have been able to build spaceships and send a man to the moon, but when it comes to sleep, much of it is still a mystery. Why? Because sleep is a state of unconsciousness and we don’t yet have the ability to wake up and recount what happened while we were sleeping. Science has been able to find out a lot of things about the mechanism behind sleep over the years, but there is a lot more that needs to be understood about this nightly phenomenon.
The need for sleep has also been quite a mystery. Why exactly do we need sleep? Today it is believed that we need sleep because the brain needs to recharge and store energy for the next day. But sleep came about not because of rest but because of safety. The ancient man needed to be safe from wild animals after the sun went down. With nothing else to do, they chose to go to their caves and sleep, even if they did not feel tired. A few centuries ago, when electricity had not been invented, sleep was chosen because it helped save oil and gas. Besides, there was nothing else to do after the sun went down.
The duration of sleep has also changed over the years. Man did not always need 8 hours of sleep. The early man slept for as long as 12 hours with a break in between. Today, science has found that man needs 7 to 8 hours of sleep because that’s the time to brain takes to recharge for the next day completely. However, some people need more or less than that amount to function normally.
Although science has been successful in interpreting much of the sleep mechanism, there is one aspect that still needs a lot more research: dreaming. And if you have ever experienced Deja Vu – the feeling of familiarity with something that’s not supposed to be familiar – it may have something to do with your dreams.
We have all had the feeling of Deja Vu at some point. Deja Vu (French for “already seen”) is a sense of familiarity about something unfamiliar. For instance, you go to a place for the first time but feel like you have already been there before because it feels familiar. Why does that happen? Even science doesn’t have the answer to that. However, there is a possibility that the sense of Deja Vu has something to do with dreaming.
A dream plays out just like real life, full of people and objects, colors, sounds, and voices. Sometimes dreams are about things, places or people we are unfamiliar with. But dreams can also be about things and events we are familiar with. When we dream of familiar people, places or events, they are actually bits and pieces of memories that are stored in our subconscious.
Deja Vu is different from a vision. A vision is when something seems familiar because you remember having seen or experienced it before. But in Deja Vu, you have no idea why something seems familiar because you don’t remember seeing or experiencing it before.
The dreams that we don’t remember might be the ones that appear as Deja Vu. However, there hasn’t yet been any fundamental proof to establish why we experience Deja Vu.
Why Do We Dream?
Everyone dreams, including babies and animals (if your dog howls in his sleep, he’s probably dreaming of confronting other members of his species). But even though sleep is such a common phenomenon, no one fully understands the reason behind them. The father of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud, had written a famous book interpreting dreams, but there’s still so much that needs to be answered. Some believe that dreams express hidden feelings and desires, while others believe that dreams can also predict the future. But despite the several advancements made by science, when it comes to decoding the mechanism of dreams , it is still a long way off. Dreams occur in the final stage of sleep, also called the REM stage. In this stage, the brain slowly begins to become active, but the body is still inactive. This is unlike what happens in previous stages when the brain is inactive, and the body works to heal and recharge. The REM stage sleep is important for cognitive functioning and memory forming. In this stage, the brain consolidates thoughts and memories, boosts productivity and concentration, and becomes alert. When REM sleep isn’t sufficient, cognitive functioning can be affected. Dreams occur in the REM stage and not in other stages. That’s because the brain becomes active in this stage, right before waking up. Besides that, the heartbeats rise, and the body temperature also starts to become normal. It is believed by scientists that a conscious part of the sleeping brain is responsible for dreams. This conscious part of the brain has cognitive, sensory and emotional occurrences, leading to dreams. Dreams are usually life-like, complete with people objects themes voices and color. These things can often have a close resemblance to waking life. But dreams can also be about unfamiliar things. Some dreams can seem real because they are very vivid. Such dreams are usually remembered for a long time. Nightmares are also dreams, but only frightening or traumatic.Deja Vu and Dreaming
We have all had the feeling of Deja Vu at some point. Deja Vu (French for “already seen”) is a sense of familiarity about something unfamiliar. For instance, you go to a place for the first time but feel like you have already been there before because it feels familiar. Why does that happen? Even science doesn’t have the answer to that. However, there is a possibility that the sense of Deja Vu has something to do with dreaming.
A dream plays out just like real life, full of people and objects, colors, sounds, and voices. Sometimes dreams are about things, places or people we are unfamiliar with. But dreams can also be about things and events we are familiar with. When we dream of familiar people, places or events, they are actually bits and pieces of memories that are stored in our subconscious.
Deja Vu is different from a vision. A vision is when something seems familiar because you remember having seen or experienced it before. But in Deja Vu, you have no idea why something seems familiar because you don’t remember seeing or experiencing it before.
The dreams that we don’t remember might be the ones that appear as Deja Vu. However, there hasn’t yet been any fundamental proof to establish why we experience Deja Vu.
Is Deja Vu Precognitive?
Deja Vu is often assumed to be precognitive, in that they may be capable of predicting the future. However, there is no evidence to prove that dreams or feelings of Deja Vu are precognitive. If anything, then it’s purely coincidence. But dreams are called precognitive if you experience the same thing later in real life, even though you may not recall it. There is no evidence yet to prove that dreams can predict significant future events, but when it comes to déjà Vu, it could be something that our dreams tell us from beforehand.New Theories About DejaVu
There are several new theories about DejaVu that have emerged in recent years:
- Dual processing theory: According to this theory, deja vu occurs when there is a momentary delay between the processing of information in the two hemispheres of the brain. This delay causes a feeling of familiarity, as though the information has been experienced before.
- Memory processing theory: This theory suggests that deja vu occurs when the brain has difficulty distinguishing between past and present experiences, leading to a feeling of familiarity.
- Hologram theory: Some researchers have proposed that deja vu is a result of the brain processing information in a way that creates a hologram-like image, which can create a sense of familiarity.
- Neurological disorder theory: Some studies have suggested that people with certain neurological disorders, such as epilepsy, are more likely to experience deja vu. This has led some researchers to speculate that deja vu may be related to abnormal brain activity in these individuals.
- Multiverse theory: This theory suggests that deja vu may be a result of experiencing parallel universes, where a similar event has occurred in another universe, leading to a feeling of familiarity in the current universe.
Deja vu in Popular Culture
Déjà vu is a phenomenon that has captured the imagination of many people and has been featured in various forms of popular culture, including movies, TV shows, and music. Here are a few examples:- The Matrix (1999): In this science fiction movie, the protagonist, Neo, experiences a feeling of déjà vu when he sees a black cat walk by twice in the same way. This leads him to realize that he is living in a simulated reality.
- The X-Files (TV series, 1993-2002): In this popular TV show, the main characters encounter many strange and paranormal phenomena, including episodes that explore the concept of déjà vu. For example, in the episode “Monday,” a character experiences a time loop that repeats itself over and over, creating a feeling of déjà vu.
- Inception (2010): In this movie, the characters use a device to enter the dreams of others and manipulate their subconscious. One of the characters describes the feeling of déjà vu as a sign that the dreamer is starting to become aware of the manipulation.
- Lost (TV series, 2004-2010): This popular TV show features many mysterious and unexplained phenomena, including episodes that explore the concept of déjà vu. For example, in the episode “Flashes Before Your Eyes,” the main character, Desmond, experiences vivid flashbacks that seem to be a form of déjà vu.
- Beyoncé – Deja Vu (2006): This popular song by Beyoncé uses the concept of déjà vu as a metaphor for a strong sense of attraction and familiarity between two people.
What is Jamais Vu?
Jamais vu is a phenomenon that is characterized by a feeling of unfamiliarity or unfamiliarity with a familiar situation, person, or place. In other words, it is the opposite of déjà vu. Instead of feeling like you have experienced something before, you feel like you are encountering something completely new, even though it is something you should be familiar with. Jamais vu is often described as a feeling of disorientation, confusion, or detachment. For example, a person may suddenly find themselves feeling like their own home is unfamiliar to them, or they may not recognize a close friend or family member. Jamais vu is not as well studied as deja vu, but it is thought to be related to disruptions in the brain’s processing of information. Some research suggests that it may be associated with certain neurological conditions or medications that affect the brain. While it is not clear what causes jamais vu, it is generally considered to be a relatively rare experience. It can be unsettling or distressing for those who experience it, but it is usually a temporary and harmless phenomenon.Other Forms of DejaVu
Presque Vu
Presque vu is a phenomenon that refers to the feeling of being on the verge of remembering or discovering something, but not quite being able to do so. It can also be described as the feeling of almost achieving an insight or a solution to a problem, but not quite being able to grasp it. The term “presque vu” comes from the French language and translates to “almost seen.” It is similar to the feeling of tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon, where you are unable to recall a word or a name that you know you know. Presque vu is a common experience that most people have had at some point in their lives. It can be frustrating and can lead to a sense of mental block or difficulty in problem-solving. However, it is generally considered to be a normal variation in cognitive function and is not a cause for concern. Research suggests that presque vu may be related to the brain’s process of retrieving memories. When we try to remember something, the brain goes through a series of steps, including encoding, storage, and retrieval. Presque vu may occur when the brain is able to partially retrieve a memory but is not able to fully access it.L’esprit de l’escalier
L’esprit de l’escalier is a French term that translates to “staircase wit.” It refers to the phenomenon of thinking of a clever or witty remark or comeback too late, after the opportunity to use it has passed. The term comes from the idea of someone leaving a social gathering or a conversation and, on the way down the stairs, suddenly coming up with the perfect response to something that was said earlier.
This experience is also sometimes called “afterwit” or “afterthought.” It is a common phenomenon that most people have experienced at some point in their lives. It can be frustrating or embarrassing to think of the perfect response too late, especially if the conversation or situation was important or high-stakes.
Research suggests that l’esprit de l’escalier may be related to the brain’s process of forming and retrieving memories. When we are in a conversation or social situation, the brain is constantly processing and storing information, including words, gestures, and facial expressions. L’esprit de l’escalier may occur when the brain is not able to retrieve a memory quickly enough to use it in the moment, but is able to retrieve it later, after the conversation has ended.
Tip of the Tongue
Tip of the tongue (TOT) is a phenomenon that refers to the feeling of being unable to recall a specific word or name that you know you know. It is a common experience that most people have had at some point in their lives. During a TOT experience, you may feel like the word is just out of reach or on the tip of your tongue, but you are unable to recall it. You may be able to remember some details about the word, such as the first letter or the number of syllables, but not the word itself. Research suggests that TOT experiences may be related to the brain’s process of retrieving words from memory. When we try to remember a word, the brain goes through a series of steps, including searching through the memory network and accessing the word’s phonological representation. A TOT experience may occur when the brain is not able to access the full phonological representation of a word, but is able to access some partial information about it. While TOT experiences can be frustrating, they are generally considered to be a normal variation in cognitive function and are not a cause for concern. Strategies for overcoming TOT experiences include taking a break from trying to remember the word, engaging in a distracting task, or using cues or hints to help trigger the memory.Presque Entendu
Presque entendu is a French term that translates to “almost heard.” It is a phenomenon that refers to the feeling of almost hearing a sound or a piece of music, but not quite. It can also be described as the feeling of almost remembering a tune or melody, but not quite being able to recall it. Presque entendu is a common experience that most people have had at some point in their lives. It can be frustrating or distracting to feel like you are almost hearing something but not quite being able to hear it fully. Research suggests that presque entendu may be related to the brain’s process of retrieving memories. When we try to remember a sound or a piece of music, the brain goes through a series of steps, including searching through the memory network and accessing the auditory representation of the sound. Presque entendu may occur when the brain is able to partially retrieve the auditory representation, but is not able to fully access it. While presque entendu experiences can be frustrating, they are generally considered to be a normal variation in cognitive function and are not a cause for concern. Strategies for overcoming presque entendu experiences include taking a break from trying to remember the sound or music, engaging in a distracting task, or using cues or hints to help trigger the memory.Capgras delusion
Capgras delusion is a rare psychiatric disorder in which a person holds the belief that a close family member, friend, or pet has been replaced by an imposter or a double. The person experiencing Capgras delusion may believe that the imposter is identical in appearance to the real person or animal, but is somehow “off” or different in some way. Capgras delusion is named after Joseph Capgras, a French psychiatrist who first described the condition in 1923. It is thought to be related to a disruption in the brain’s ability to process information about familiar faces and objects, leading to a sense of confusion or detachment. Capgras delusion is typically associated with underlying psychiatric or neurological conditions, such as schizophrenia, dementia, or traumatic brain injury. It is usually treated with a combination of medications and psychotherapy, although treatment can be challenging and outcomes can vary. While Capgras delusion is a rare condition, it can be distressing and disruptive for those who experience it, as well as for their loved ones.
33 thoughts on “Deja Vu and Dreaming: Is There A Connection?”
The thing is, I had déjà vu in a dream last night, but I remember all of it. What does that mean?
That’s what I’m trying to figure out too.
Help,
There have been instances where i think i have dreamt about it and things look same. Sometimes it is to the extent where even i know the sentances at that very moment which looks similar to what i dreamt. But still as i couldnt recall, it feels like deja vu. What is this, can you help me.
I have the same thing. I’m trying to find others. I think were here for a special reason we have to remember. It’s important thats all I know. I have future dreams too, it’s due to the cyclical nature of reality, I don’t know why yet tho. Lmk what u think. Thank you.
find me “tech#9785″…. i can see the future in my dreams….. i cant explain
I’m not a professional or anything but I experience this regularly too followed by nausea. It seems to be a combination of some type of stress and lack of restful sleep. From what I’ve been able to research it has to do with long term memory processing issues in the brain caused by stress and inadequate restful sleep. I also have sleep apnea which I treat with a cpap machine. I highly recommend seeing if this treatment would help you as well. Good luck to you.
I just had an episode. My problem is that I can’t tell whether it was a dream or reality.
Strangest damn feeling. Did I just dream it, or did it actually happen.
I have dreams that I’ve had years ago forget them as soon as I woke up . But now and again those same short dream moments comes back to my memory like Deja vu right before it happens in reality . How can I do this ?
I have the exact same thing happening!
I had 3 episodes of Deja vu in one night that actually happened years ago in my dreams
Were you under the influence of consciousness altering chemicals?
I have been experiencing the same thing
That’s what happens to me and I can’t find an explanation
That’s what happens to me and I can’t find an explanation. If you know anything or found out anything, can you email me???
i had a dream.. years ago.. DIDNT remember it .. until i woke up in this bedroom of a person i was seeing.. I never knew him prior ( we dated for a month … ) in my dream i was in a blue room with a mirror talking to a guy in the doorway… one night… he was going to kitchen.. asked me if i wanted something… i got up.. and went to talk..when it hit me.. id seen this.. and he was the guy… whose face i never could see ..
Had a dream n it normal day going bout business as usual.. so was with friends n we stopped at a house n got out a guy was there along with others I knew, the guys walks up to me n stabbes me multiple times…I wake up..
So what trips me out Is like a week later (not dreaming) I’m with friends n we stop at a house n it’s the same house as n my dream.. still sittn n my car , other knwn friends r outside n visible,, n sitting amongst my knwn friends is a guy n it’s the guy from my dream..
Now at this time I’m trippn out ,and I leave I dnt get out cause of the dream I had not even a week prior..
Can u help me out with understanding this dream r meaning…
I totally think that deja vu has to do with dreams. I think we get deja vu because something triggers off a dream we have forgotten about. I think dreams are sometimes seeing into the future but when we wake up from a dream we forget about it most times instantly. Then something like we see something and someone says a spercific thing which will trigger the deja vu. But in fact its just us remember the dream we have like a year ago and we are just remembering it….
I often dream about people and places l haven’t met and went to yet almost every single night, yet in the dream all the places feel very familiar to me …. like I’ve been there before ?? Yet I haven’t at all
Yes 100% me also.
Sounds like a lot of you are having recurring dreams, not deja vu .I have had occurrences where a walk into a room see who is there and know the next thing that will be said. I have not had those experiences for quite a few years now. At the time I use to dream of falling. When those dreams stopped so did the deja vu . Then they said you had an out of body experience and that falling was reentering your body. I would have thought that silly except there seems to be a connection between the two. I also dreamed of soaring that started later in life but that seems to have stopped as well unfortunately, I really enjoyed that freedom. In more recent years a also dreamed of being able to jump really high and landing softly sadly that seems to have stopped as well. Price we pay for getting old.
I had a reoccurring dreams for several yrs, it would start at the same place & I’d asked scared at the same place scared to death. I am part Indian do I do believe. All of the kids in my family have de ja van’s. I still get them. Ihad one here where I moved & had one. Went to my son’s hose & I had one there, where my brother also had one. Maybe u can help me with this reoccurring dream that went on for yrs as a child. I do believe in reincarnation. and I have been trying to get ans, for this dream or memory. I think I may have been about 5-7yrs old of that one & another one, that feels like a memory, not sure, when I was just a toddler? 3 yrs of age. The 1st one I think we were at a picnic, where these huge wooden barrels were sitting on the hill, where we would get liquid out of. I was ? Playing with a friend & we were near to barrels, when they started toppling down the hill after us & I would wake up in that same plc, scarred to death, hearing the noise they made. I’d wake up and get on the corner of my bed & slide down and run into the bathroom until I could no longer hear the noise. This went on for several yrs, and it was ways exactly same scene, same month for yrs. I know this is a little more than just de ja vau, but I have those still til this day. I need to find out because I believe that all of this is connected to possibly to 2 deaths, cuz I believe I drowned in my younger yrs, & then the 2nd one. I’m Very intuitive I feel things. So I’m hoping you can help or direct me to help me find out. I’ve searched for yrs. My great grandmother was part squaw.
This happens to me all the time. Ever since I was a girl girl. I will dr4am something and then it could be days or weeks later but then things will start to happen and I’m like this and this and this is bout to happen, and it does but as soon as I try remember the main reason for the dr3am and the outcome of the dr3am, i have no more memory of it and struggle even.rembering it again. It drives me insane
Yes me too, and exactly how you said, I try to hold onto it so I can sort of work out the who what where but it never lasts long enough.
I actually look forward to them as their always quite nice feelings.
I’ve been knowing about this for years and yes we can dream the future. Once I literally predicted what my friend was gonna say to me in that very moment. like I chose to say it at the same time as him because I knew I could remember what he said to me so yeah lol I Chose to freak him out.
The reason some people have difficulty remembering dreams is because while you are sleeping, the part of your brain that is responcible for your short-term memory is being cleaned for the next day, similarly to a computer when you shut it down. But I must admit I also experience deja vu dreams, but they very blurry and often pretty insignificant, like reacalling sitting in school having a piece of paper before me. 4-5 months later the deja vu hit me while I was writing a chemistry test. Or 3 days ago I was playing a video game and a special event was releaced and I had a deja vu then. It’s pretty misterious. Although I wish I could see my dreams more clearly
I get this all the time.
I’ll dream alot of the time my dreams are just dreams and I don’t rember most of them.
But sometimes I’ll rember bits and pieces.
The most convincing proof that I may be able to see future events was a night mare about my sick father dieing. In my dream I was I left the home but first gave my dad a kiss on the forehead. And my mom took me to school the rest was fussy but I rembered there being an ambulance and Crying.
He died like a week later.
I rember that morning feeling odd deju vu but couldn’t think of why. Until after I was picked up from school by my mom and given the bad news that his lungs stoped and he didn’t make it. I relised that I had dreamed that exact scenario.
Other times this has happened are small things like seeing someone I haven’t seen in years and years at where I work. Mostly alot of small not super significant things.
I dont have control of what or when these dreams happen. And I don’t know if a dream has any significance until it happens usually.
Iv started to write in a dream journal the moment I wake up and put a red Mark next to notes regarding things like injury, death or other bad events just in case maby I can prevent them from happening if I get the de ju vu Early enough befor the bad things happen.
I Can relate to all the answers, I get daily deja vu feelings or memories of people and places I’ve never met or been, remembering dreams I had when I was a kid then that day I’ll be doing exactly what I dreamed about 20 yrs ago…also at the same time this all happens my sense of smell is super heightened, all my senses are triggered as well and its like Im Iiterally there..I actually like it ,as their always good memories, and I try to hold onto it but it slips away.
This may seem strange, but I can say with actual evidence from a previous sleep study, that REM does not stay solely in stage 3-4 sleep. I have had Sleep Apnea my entire life, but was only diagnosed in my late 20s. During my sleep study, I was found to enter REM almost immediately upon falling asleep, and never left stage 1-2. I was also found to have 97% sleep efficiency in spite of more than 30 apneic episodes in a half hour of sleep. I have discovered a possible correlation to the lack of oxygen during repeated and numerous apneic episodes, and the occurrence of precognitive dreams. I have had these hyper vivid dreams, and then anywhere from weeks to over a decade later lived that instance in the waking world. For years this phenomena left me feeling uneasy due to the lack of physical familiarity while I was experiencing total mental familiarity. Perhaps this ramble won’t be helpful, but since being on CPAP, I have experienced very few precognitive dreams. Which is where I draw a correlation between lack of oxygen (possible close brushes with death) and precognitive dreams during apneic episodes
omg i do the same thing when something happens that i have dreamed about i will do something to make it different from my dream even if its just lifting my leg or moving my arm or head!!! i thought i was the only one who did that……..
I have experience to…. But some dreams feels so really that if I haven’t experienced it in the I face in dream like smelling some kind of perfume or wearing a dress that I never wore before…. Basically I can feel them!!!!
So i guess like many in the comments, I’m also looking for answers. If anyone has any. I also dream things, never to remember them. Until that very thing occurs in my day to day life, but it doesn’t just feel like something you suddenly remember. Hard to explain but it just feels like more than that? And these dreams could have happened years prior to the event happening. I’ve done this since I was little, and it still happens. It’s not constant, or happening all the time. But enough times to look into it.
Be amazing if anyone had some more insight into this.
When anyone has these moments do you ever have this weird dizzy kind of feeling
its insane to me how much i can relte to some of these comments. i had a dream but i didnt know it was a dream at first and the next time i had the dream i was kinda freaked out so i did something different and i always pinch myself to see if im dreaming or not and i felt it so i was alright but i dreamt about it again another night and i did the same thing and i felt the pain from the pinch so i told my boyfriend that this has happened before and since this happens alot he just said “its just your deja vu calm down dont” and i was like your right alright and then a few nights later it actually happens and it started with his cousin handing him juice and one of them said “si gracias” and then he said “thats cold” and his friend said “that shts crazy” and it started happening again, when his cousin handed him the juice i told him “this happened before multiple times its freaking me out a little like it gives me alot of anxiety” and he just said “its just your deja vu calm down” then i snapped like i was so overwhelmed i said out loud in front of his friend “i know your saying its just my deja vu but what does that mean? this is the 4th time this has happened(i explained the other experiences and how vivid they felt and how i tried different things each time and how i told him the last time and he said the same thing and i told him what his friend was going to say as his friend was saying it and his friend just looked at me weird because i said exactly what he said) and my boyfriend got upset at me and said “stop acting like this in front of my friends you sound crazy its just deja vu, calm down”
i still cant process what actually happened and if i was dreaming what had happened or anything. it really freaks me out this happens frequently. im 15 years old and im extremely curious why things happen multiple times the same exact way and i dont remember it happening multiple times until it happens for the second time. anyone have any comments?