why do words start to sound distorted/foreign when repeated multiple times?
/u/kimba55 has it wrong. It's not called jamais vu; what you're looking for is the phenomenon called [semantic satiation](_URL_0_). *Edit: it appears semantic satiation is a subset of jamais vu specific to words and phrases.
The Short Answer
/u/kimba55 has it wrong. It's not called jamais vu; what you're looking for is the phenomenon called [semantic satiation](_URL_0_). *Edit: it appears semantic satiation is a subset of jamais vu specific to words and phrases. Essentially, when you hear a word, neurons in your brain fire off to connect "word" to "meaning." If you fire off the synaptic pairing enough times, you begin to experience "reactive inhibition," a "dulling" of the reaction that you're experiencing. Because the thing being inhibited is the connection of a word to its meaning, the word begins to temporarily **lose** its meaning.
Analysis
Key Concepts: Word, meaning, called
This explanation focuses on word, meaning, called and spans 99 words across 5 sentences. At 46% above the average Space & Astronomy explanation (68 words), this is one of the more thorough answers in this category, reflecting the complexity of the underlying question.
What This Answer Covers
The explanation opens with: “/u/kimba55 has it wrong.” It then elaborates by explaining the root cause, ultimately building toward a complete picture across 5 connected points.
How This Compares in Space & Astronomy
Ranked #117 of 500 Space & Astronomy questions by answer depth (top 24%). This places it in the comprehensive tier — the top quarter of most thoroughly answered questions. Questions at this depth typically involve multi-faceted topics requiring nuanced explanation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a simple explanation for why words start to sound distorted/foreign when repeated multiple times?
/u/kimba55 has it wrong. It's not called jamais vu; what you're looking for is the phenomenon called [semantic satiation](_URL_0_). *Edit: it appears semantic satiation is a subset of jamais vu specific to words and phrases. Essentially, when you…
How detailed is this explanation compared to similar Space & Astronomy questions?
This is one of the most thorough answer at 99 words, ranked #117 of 500 Space & Astronomy questions by depth. The key concepts covered are word, meaning, called.
What approach does this answer take to explain words start to sound distorted/foreign when repeated multipl?
The explanation uses root cause analysis across 99 words. It is categorized under Space & Astronomy and addresses the question through 1 analytical lens.