Art, obsession, and identity
By the time we reach adulthood, most of us are familiar with the concept of deja vu. Translated directly from the French, deja vu literally means "already seen." The term describes the sensation of having experienced a certain situation before. However, fewer people are familiar with the concept of deja reve. Similar but distinct from deja vu, deja reve occurs when you experience something in real life that you have previously experienced in a dream.
Deja reve is one of those brain-related phenomena that scientists are yet to fully understand. And while it can be unsettling, it is not usually considered a cause for concern.
Intrigued? Check out this gallery to find out more about deja reve.
Ever been struck by the peculiar sensation that you’re living through something you’ve dreamt about before? If so, you’ve may have experienced deja reve.
People can have deja reve about sights, sounds, emotions, or situations, and it is much more common than you might think.
While it can seem quite eerie, there is likely a scientific explanation for deja reve. However, it is an area of active research and scientists are not yet sure of the cause.
Currently, researchers believe that deja reve is most likely caused by your brain remembering its dreams while it is awake.
Scientists who look at this strange phenomenon have identified three different types of deja reve. Each of the different types may be accompanied by their own sensations.
First up is specific deja reve. This happens when you recall a specific dream after something happens in real life to make you remember it.
Then there’s familiar deja reve. This is a more general feeling that you’ve already dreamt something, whether it be an emotion or a situation.
However, unlike with specific deja reve, familiar deja reve does not allow you to link the emotion or situation to a particular dream. It is much more general.
Each can be just as disorienting, although neither are usually anything to worry about, since they rarely mean anything is wrong.
Indeed, researchers believe that our brains may be able to store certain dreams and then recall them when we witness or experience something in real life that resembles them.
In 2018, researchers conducted a study in which they were able to trigger deja reve in epilepsy patients by delivering an electric brain stimulation.
This serves as strong evidence that our brains are able to store and recall certain dreams under specific conditions.
Another theory as to the cause of deja reve is that it may be caused by overlapping thoughts and feelings.
According to the study, deja reve may occur because of crossed wires between the two sides of the brain, which are responsible for different functions.
Whatever you believe, it can be beneficial to take a note of how you feel and react to your deja reve moments. Something may have resurfaced because it's important to you or bothers you in some way.
Indeed, frequent spells of deja reve may be a cause for concern, especially if they are accompanied by confusion, loss of awareness, seizures, headaches, or shaking.
Sources: (Verywell Mind) (WikiHow)
See also: The most common dreams by country (and what they mean)
Deja reve: when dreams and waking life collide
Revisiting your dreams
LIFESTYLE Dreaming
By the time we reach adulthood, most of us are familiar with the concept of deja vu. Translated directly from the French, deja vu literally means "already seen." The term describes the sensation of having experienced a certain situation before. However, fewer people are familiar with the concept of deja reve. Similar but distinct from deja vu, deja reve occurs when you experience something in real life that you have previously experienced in a dream.
Deja reve is one of those brain-related phenomena that scientists are yet to fully understand. And while it can be unsettling, it is not usually considered a cause for concern.
Intrigued? Check out this gallery to find out more about deja reve.