[Déjà vu: elaboration of a hypothetical model of explanation]

Although psychiatric literature abounds in allusions to the phenomenon of "déjà vu", few communications were devoted to an analysis of this interesting psychological state. After a short review of the "déjà vu" conditions, the author proposes a model consisting of two channels. Under normal conditions, the first deals with the reading of information already stored, and the second, the engrammic channel, will store future information. The "déjà vu" condition is produced when the reading channel and the engrammic channel meet in the same area. This mechanism can explain the various etiological possibilities of "déjà vu", ranging from more or less ordinary cases such as fatigue or anguish to the most important etiology which is a psychotic process.