Certain routine actions conjure specific images in my mind. Have you experienced this?

This makes me think of EMDR although, I’m not sure if that could be similar. My idea would be that some type of stimulation could trigger those thoughts or images. Perhaps those images are ‘stuck’ and that’s what brings them back up. I always thought of the brain as a computer defrag

Yes, I’ve occasionally had those types of images pop into my head. There was another question on Fluther a couple of days ago about a similar thing. The OP asked whether certain images were related to de-ja-vu, but some of us said we had had ongoing (over many years, but not a constant or even often occurrence) of random images that popped into our heads, but the images were ones that we had seen before, but they didn’t seem to be related to any real things that had been seen by any of us in our waking lives. Most of mine came from dreams (even though I only dreamed the dream once) but the images still pop into my head. And some of the images are not from dreams at all, they are random images that have feelings and sometimes scents and sounds associated with them, but over the years, these same images have popped into my head. Luckily it only happens once every few years or so and doesn’t appear to have any particular trigger and they aren’t unpleasant, just un-explainable.

Certain smells do that to me. I found an old half used bottle of shampoo that has been off the market for over 20 years in a box of junk in the garage. I sniffed it and was instantly transported to an exiting and very fun period of my life. Also a certain food smell reminds me of breakfast with my Dad when I was 3–4 years old. Of course I can really go time tripping listening to oldies music.

On the path where I ride my bike,there is a stretch that reminds me of this song.

;)

I understand that smells evoke more memories that actions or sound. I have done or smell things that evoke images of my dad. I occasionally buy and ice cream cone. I remember a time when I was very young, probably about 2 or 3 with my parents sitting on the front porch of our old house watching people go by. The people aren’t clear but my parents are. That happened at least 62 years ago and it is still very clear.

@lucillelucillelucille Uncle Remus reminded me of when I was back in high school and I thought that I was the only person in the world that loved Zappa’s music. Frank Zappa was like the Franz Kafka of music. It is so sad that such genius is so overlooked.