Much of what the brain does occurs below the level of conscious awareness. For example, taste receptors in the mouth not only contribute to our sensation of flavor, but also prepare our digestive system for what is about to arrive. With practice, even complex actions, like driving to work, become habits and fade from our active thoughts. A large portion of the brain is concerned with predicting what will happen in the very next few moments, and these subconscious calculations do not require us to attend to them

Much of what the brain does occurs below the level of conscious awareness. For example, taste receptors in the mouth not only contribute to our sensation of flavor, but also prepare our digestive system for what is about to arrive. With practice, even complex actions, like driving to work, become habits and fade from our active thoughts. A large portion of the brain is concerned with predicting what will happen in the very next few moments, and these subconscious calculations do not require us to attend to them