Déjà-vu sensation induced by cortical stimulation of the posterior cingulate cortex

We report a case of a 19-year-old woman with drug-resistant focal epilepsy whose typical seizure semiology involved sensations of déjà-vu. She underwent intracranial stimulation, leading to déjà-vu upon stimulation of the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC). Most reports of induced déjà-vu and epilepsy-associated déjà-vu emphasize networks including temporal lobe, especially the rhinal cortices, as the generator of this phenomenon. However, evidence from healthy individuals and those with confirmed cingulate epilepsy suggests that the PCC may play a role in some experiences of déjà-vu or other dreamy state phenomena. This case adds to the body of evidence suggesting a role for the PCC in déjà-vu. It also highlights the importance of including the PCC in intracranial investigations of some suspected temporal lobe epilepsies.