Ace the AP Psychology Test 2026 – Unlock Your Mind’s Potential!

Déjà vu is the feeling of having already experienced a present situation before. This feeling is caused by current cues that trigger the retrieval of an earlier experience. Options A and D may seem like valid answers, but they do not fully explain the phenomenon of déjà vu. Option A refers to the unconscious activation of associations in memory, but this does not fully explain the sensation of reliving a situation. Option D mentions recognition of previously learned items, but this does not account for the feeling of familiarity with a situation that has not been previously experienced. Option C is incorrect because déjà vu is not linked to a loss of memory, but rather a sensation of experiencing something already known. Therefore, option B is the best explanation for the cause of déjà vu.