Automaticity

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Automaticity is the ability to do things without occupying the mind with the low level details required. It is usually the result of learning, repetition, and practice.

Examples of automaticity are common activities such as walking, speaking, bicycle riding, assembly-line work, and driving a car. After an activity is sufficiently practiced it is possible to focus the mind on other activities or thoughts while undertaking an automaticised activity (for example holding a conversation or planning a speech while driving a car).

LaBerge and Samuels (1974) helped explain how reading fluency develops [1]. Automaticity refers to knowing how to do something so well that you don't have to think about it while doing it.

Companies, such as AutoSkill [2], incorporates the concept of automaticity into computer software. By measuring the consistency of processing speed and accuracy of students' responses, foundation reading skills can become automatic. As a result, students can devote cognitive effort to higher order comprehension skills.

In biology the term Automaticity also refers to the ability of the cardiac muscles to depolarize spontaneously, i.e without external electrical stimulation from the nervous system. This spontaneous depolarization is due to the plasma membranes within the heart that have reduced permeability to potassium (K+) but still allow passive transfer of sodium ions, allowing a net charge to build. Automaticity is most often demonstrated in the Sino-Atrial Node, the so called "Pacemaker of the Heart." Abnormalities in automaticity result in rhythm changes.