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ian no longer has to think about the steps required to assemble the machinery he helps build at work. after doing it several thousand times, he just does it automatically. his memory for this skill is stored as

User Reny
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Final answer:

Ian's memory for the skill of assembling machinery is stored as procedural memory, allowing him to do it automatically without thinking.

Step-by-step explanation:

Ian's memory for the skill of assembling machinery is stored as procedural memory. Procedural memory is a type of long-term memory that allows us to perform tasks and skills automatically, without conscious effort. It is usually developed through lots of practice and repetition.

Procedural memory is the type of memory that allows you to ride a bike, play a musical instrument, or type on a keyboard without consciously thinking about each step. Once a skill is stored in procedural memory, it becomes ingrained and can be performed automatically.

For example, let's say you have been typing on a computer keyboard for many years. At first, you had to consciously think about where each key is located and how to press it. But with practice, typing becomes automatic and effortless. This is because the memory for typing has been stored as procedural memory.

User Jai Techie
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Final answer:

Ian's ability to assemble machinery without conscious thought is an example of procedural memory at work, a skill gained through the repetition of tasks until they become automatic just as in the case of Ford's assembly line which simplifies tasks to foster efficiency.

Step-by-step explanation:

The skill that Ian has developed through repetition at work is known as procedural memory. It's a type of long-term memory that enables individuals to assemble complex actions without conscious thought. This form of memory is responsible for the coordination of various skills and behaviors that have become automatic due to practice.

Similar to when one first learns to commute and must pay careful attention to schedules, signs, and exits, the initial phase requires active learning and memory. However, over time, as with Ian's experience in assembling machinery, these actions become second nature and can be performed with minimal conscious input. The driving force behind this transition is the shift from declarative to procedural memory, which is largely attributed to a part of the brain called the basal ganglia.

The concept of the assembly line, as utilized by Henry Ford, was designed to simplify the work process into such small steps that it could become automatic for the workers involved, a principle that aligns with the nature of procedural memory. Ford's system emphasizes efficiency over craftsmanship, by applying scientific management and ensuring each team member is responsible for simple, repetitious tasks leading to automaticity in the work environment.

User Himanshu Arora
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