Perhaps, as we have come to learn with many other neurological functions and experiences, the I-Function has little or nothing to do with the de ja vu experience except being aware that it has happened...adding the "I" to the sense of "I've" been here or "I've" done that before. As I understand it, there is really no conclusive explanation for the phenomenon of de ja vu; however, out of the several theories I have heard one of the most interesting has to do with the way in which our brains process information. Someone once explained to me that the way we experience neurological phenomenon is analogous to sitting backwards in a car and watching the scenery go by only after we've already passed it. This makes sense when one takes into account exactly how quickly action potentials occur and are passed along in relation to how the higher architecture of the brain constructs time (basically it's similar to the example Molly brought up in class were our hand has already closed the door before we even think to do so). However, in this theory, the sensation of de ja vu occurs when the higher architectural components of the brain actually function within the real time of the nervous system and thus are apart of or react to a stimulus at the same time as the actual sensory neurons, etc. and then re-experience the same phenomenon again within the context of it's own time...i.e. we glance out of the front of the car at the scenery ahead of us or as we pass it and then turn around and experience again as it goes by.

However, after reading Jessica's post and after having taken into consideration the fact that our brain is more than adept at constructing reality and generating spontaneous stimuli, I wonder if the phenomenon of de ja vu is yet another example of a disconnect between corollary discharge units and random, experimental activity from other parts of the brain. Perhaps, the feeling of "I've" been here or seen this before that one gets in the de ja vu phenomenon is part of the random generation of activity between the amygdala and the hippocampus, producing the sensation of recognition, which, as Jessica discusses is both an emotional valence as well as a sensory (memory of/correlation between images, smells, textures, etc.) one. Perhaps, de ja vu occurs when such activity is produced unexpectedly (i.e. the message didn't get around that this was just a test, etc.) and the brain is forced to reconcile this activity with the input it is currently receiving from the environment resulting in a false sense of recognition in relation to a place or action (sort of like when the brain's solution to contradictory information sent from the right and left eyes in relation to the position and depth of your finger is to make the finger transparent).