Muscle Memory / Procedural
Procedural memory stores practised action sequences in the basal ganglia and cerebellum so they run without conscious control; a rehearsed yes, a reflex tap or a habitual signature executes before you decide.
An everyday example
Tapping 'Accept' on an updated terms dialog because your thumb has done it a hundred times, then realising it changed the price.
What it can cost you
Actions that fire before evaluation, and interfaces designed to ride your existing motor habits.
Warning signs
- I tapped before I read.
- My hand knew the flow better than I did.
One thing to do
Put a different motion between habit and consequence: move the button, use the other hand, or read one line aloud before any practised confirm.
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