The phenomenom you're talking about is called "interrupted checklist" in aviation. Humans are actually quite good at following memorized lists unless they get i

The phenomenom you're talking about is called "interrupted checklist" in aviation. Humans are actually quite good at following memorized lists unless they get interrupted mid-task. When this happens, the risk of a mistake goes up significantly, because your mind has already "checked off" the task that you were in the progress of completing when you got interrupted. See for example: http://flighttraining.aopa.org/magazine/2002/October/200210_Instructor_Report_Interrupted_Checklist_.html http://flighttraining.aopa.org/magazine/2002/October/200210_... The psychology behind this is also the reason for the "sterile cockpit" procedures during critical phases of flight. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sterile_Cockpit_Rule https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sterile_Cockpit_Rule