What is Déjà Vu?!

I feel like I've seen this video before…
↓ More info and sources below ↓

Most of us have felt it before, that strange sensation that you've been somewhere or seen something before, as if you already remembered what's happening. Are you psychic? Nope, that's just déjà vu. Why does déjà vu happen? Well, scientists aren't completely sure, but they've got a few good theories about it.

Special thanks to Austin's Corona Cafe!

Cast:
Waiter - Joe Nicolosi (he's also the director)
Sneezing girl - Kate Eads (she's also associate producer)
Guy spilling coffee - John Knudesn (he's also gaffer)

Have an idea for an episode or an amazing science question you want answered? Leave a comment below!

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It's Okay To Be Smart is written and hosted by Joe Hanson, Ph.DFollow me on Twitter: @jtotheizzoe
Email me: itsokaytobesmart AT gmail DOT com
Produced for PBS Digital Studios

Joe Hanson - Creator/Host/Writer
Joe Nicolosi - Director
Amanda Fox - Producer, Spotzen IncKate Eads - Associate Producer
Andrew Matthews - Editing/Motion Graphics
Katie Graham - Director of Photography
John Knudsen - Gaffer
Dalton Allen - Post-Production Intern

Theme music:
"Ouroboros" by Kevin MacLeod

Other music via APM

Stock images from Shutterstock

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More videos:

[nut_]

I get the feeling of deja vu in the most random moments.... sometimes when I'm having a good time, laughing, having fun, it just hits my brain and then i just end up stopping what I'm doing.

[neerjabiswas]

I actually enjoy when I have those small moments of confusion. Makes me think I’m a time traveller or something

[SwitchUpYt]

Had a big crash the other day and the hit to the head made the next hour feel like a memory while it happened. Very disconcerting!

[Rapitor]

my "dejavu" tends to happen in the form of dreams. I'll have a dream and then *much* later it will happen in my life. I don't recognize it's importance while I am dreaming, but I definitely remember it (and dreaming it) after it happens.

[FAITERA]

seeing that man spill his drink so many times was stressing me out

[SpaceNinja]

That guy is not experiencing deja vu... he's in a time loop.

[TCcool]

I have Deja vu all the time!!! One time I did something and I was like: “haven’t I done this before??”

[kween]

I have dreams and then years later I see that location it’s wierd

[zenaidaalejo]

Thank god he didnt warn that guy
He could've made a totally different future and it could have destroyed the entire world

[juanflores]

Last week I had deja vu or a look into the future I knew exactly what was going to happen and I purposely did the exact same things I remembered and the outcome was the same as I had seen.

[enrikodunev]

deja vu is one of the greatest feelings for me

[alina]

I’ve been having déjà vu since I was 4 and it’s actually pretty common for me

[eskewroberts]

"yeah i could have"


you sir, have a subscriber

[ArnavKathuriapersonal]

Sometimes people tell me some things but then i feel like it has already occurred in the past

[Michaelsmithnosky]

I literally have dreams about things that eventually happened in the future, I don’t know how. I’ve dreamt of certain situations that happen days, weeks, even months after I dreamt of it. Does this happen to anyone else.

[IanChristopher]

There was a moment happened in my class one year ago, I suddenly had the deja vu feeling, I instantly looked at the door of the classroom and think, a woman will stand in front of the door few seconds later, guess what? she really appear, I remember that scene until now....

[yellowkittyfangs]

How can you explain this. I dream about my “déjà vu” moments. Sometimes I can even remember it when I wake up (this is more rare though). When I do, later on when I’m about to do what I saw in the dream, I remember what I dreamt. So basically I can choose to continue the action or not, and I do continue. It’s such a weird and interesting thing, it’s like my dream state sees the future on rare occasions.

[ADMG]

i remember one time i was dreaming about me rushing to somewhere then suddenly i crashed and woke up... Then one day i was driving in a hurry and i had an instant feeling of deja vu so i stopped automatically, Next thing you know .. the car that hit me in my dream was just about to hit me in real life. I really appreciate deja vu because without it or not remembering that dream, i coulda been dead man

[mauricethegecko]

"Almost never before age 8 or 9."

I've had so many déjà vu's before then.

[EllaHulk]

I see stuff in a daydream or a night dream and then it happens in real life.