So I have a confession to make.

I only recently learned how to drive.

And it was really hard.

Now, this wasn't an older brain thing.

Do you remember what it was like
when you first learned how to drive?

When every decision you made
was so conscious and deliberate?

I'd come home from my lessons
completely wiped out mentally.

Now, as a cognitive scientist,
know that this is because

I was using a lot of something
called executive function.

Executive function is our amazing ability
to conciously control our thoughts,

emotions and actions

in order to achieve goals.