An old lady with multiple small strokes experiences somthing familiar

[Oak]

A 72 years old woman with a history of multiple small strokes reports to her physician that she has had multiple recent experiences that something or someone seemed very familiar, when in reality they were not familiar to her. This type of experience is called which of the following?

A. Anterograde amnesia
B. Confabulation
C. Deja vu
D. Jamais vu
E. Retrograde amnesia

[Oak]

The correct answer is C.

This is deja vu ("seen before"), which is the experience of an event, person, or thing as familiar, even though it has never previously been experienced. Severe cases often accompany an underlying neurologic problem.

Anterograde amnesia (choice A) is the inability to learn new facts. Most commonly, it involves both verbal and nonverbal material, but it can involve one or the other.

In confabulation (choice B), a patient reports "memories" of events that did not take place at the time in question.

In jamais vu (choice D), a patient fails to recognize familiar events that have been encountered before.

In retrograde amnesia (choice E), a patient fails to remember facts or events that occurred before the onset of amnesia.