AUTOMATION

n. the state or condition in which activities are carried out automatically, especially by electronically controlled systems. This behavior is sometimes performed mechanically, without intention, and without conscious awareness. It may be a motor or verbal activity that ranges from simple repetitive acts, such as repeatedly using the same phrase (e.g., as it were), to complex activities, such as sleepwalking and automatic writing. Automatism is seen in several serious disorders, including catatonic schizophrenia and complex partial seizures.