Jamais vu

Jamais vu can be described as the sudden sensation that a previously known concept or currently-occurring situation is unfamiliar and being experienced for the very first time. This is often triggered despite the fact that during the experience of it, the person is rationally aware that the circumstances of the previous experience have definitely occurred.

The term itself is a common phrase of French origin which translates literally into “never seen” and is complementary to the more well-known state referred to as "deja vu". It is a well-documented phenomenon that can commonly occur both when sober as well as under the influence of hallucinogens.

Within the context of psychoactive substance usage, many compounds are commonly capable of inducing spontaneous and often prolonged states of mild to intense sensations of jamais vu. The effect can manifest as an overwhelming sense of eeriness and the impression that one has “never been here before”.

Jamais vu is often accompanied by other coinciding effects such as short-term memory suppression and time distortion. It is most commonly induced under the influence of moderate dosages of hallucinogenic compounds, such as psychedelics, dissociatives, and cannabinoids.