Final answer:
Initially, a new or complex task will lead to increased conscious attention demands, but as proficiency and automation of the skill increase, these demands typically decrease.
Step-by-step explanation:
When discussing changes in conscious attention demands typically observed in performing skills, the resources required by conscious thought are indeed a key factor. When a task is new or complex, it necessitates a high level of conscious attention, eliciting an increased demand on mental resources. As mentioned in the video by Daniel Simons and Christopher Chabris, attention is a limited resource that needs to be focused on specific tasks, illustrating how performing skills initially requires more conscious attention. However, as one becomes more practiced at a task, it becomes more automatic and the demands on conscious attention typically decrease. This transition from high to low conscious attention demand is a well-established phenomenon in the development of expertise.
Therefore, the correct answer to the question "What changes in conscious attention demands are typically observed in performing skills?" is a) Decreased demands as proficiency increases. Initially, the demands may be increased, but they reduce over time with practice and experience.