In many ways, the prefrontal cortex is what makes us human. If we didn’t have control over our attention, we couldn’t think abstract and complicated thoughts. But just like a muscle, the prefrontal cortex can become tired if we ask it to make too many decisions – a condition known as “decision fatigue”. When our prefrontal cortex becomes tired, our focus wavers and our minds wander. We lose our ability to distinguish between what’s important to pay attention to and what’s not. The more information we’re presented with, the more of a problem this becomes.
