Why do autonomous performers have spare attention capacity?

Why do autonomous performers have spare attention capacity?

• A. They require constant monitoring
• B. They don't have to concentrate on performance
• C. They rely on external instructions
• D. They slow down to think

Answer: (B)

Autonomous performers have spare attention capacity because the movement has become automatic through practice. When a skill is well learned, its execution requires little conscious control, so the performer isn’t using up attention just to perform the action. That freed-up attention can be directed at other things, like reading the game, adjusting tactics, monitoring opponents, or responding to changing conditions. If the performer still had to actively concentrate on the basics, there wouldn’t be spare capacity available.

Autonomous performers have spare attention capacity because the movement has become automatic through practice. When a skill is well learned, its execution requires little conscious control, so the performer isn’t using up attention just to perform the action. That freed-up attention can be directed at other things, like reading the game, adjusting tactics, monitoring opponents, or responding to changing conditions. If the performer still had to actively concentrate on the basics, there wouldn’t be spare capacity available.