Why experiencing this strange memory illusion is a sign of a healthy brain (and not a glitch in the matrix).

By Thomas Ling

Published: Monday, 27 February 2023 at 12:00 am


Instant Genius is a bite-sized masterclass in podcast form. And in this episode we’re delving into the surprising neuroscience of déjà vu.

Sorry if we’ve already asked, but do you know what causes déjà vu? Or why you experience it less as you get older? Just in case you’re unsure, we got the answers from Dr Akira O’Connor, senior psychology lecturer at the University of St Andrews.

In this episode, he talks us through the bizarre neuroscience of déjà vu, from what makes you more prone to it, to how you can easily create an artificial sense of déjà vu in somebody else.