"Well-Travelled Road" Effect

The "well-travelled road" effect is the cognitive sensation that a return trip, or a trip on a familiar road, will register as shorter than traveling on an unfamiliar road. While the reason for this is not clearly understood, this is most likely the result of the lesser need for close attention to the route when on a familiar road thus allowing the mind to distribute its energy differently. I'm sure that all of us have had the experience of how when repeating a familiar trip the trip will seem short, or may not even be well-remembered, due to the familiarity of the task.