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• is the mental processes that allow individuals to carry out tasks. 
• These skills allow the individual to have an active role in the processes of receiving, choosing, transforming, storing, processing and retrieval of information.  
• It includes learning, thinking, reasoning, remembering, problem solving, decision making, and attention among others.
• Driving is recognised as a complex task which requires safe co-ordination of multiple cognitive processes simultaneously¹.In relation to the task of driving the cognitive skills that are recognised as most important include 

1. Attention – this includes focused attention (so driver can react to unpredictable events), divided/selective attention (so driver can ignore distractors and attend to hazardous stimuli) and sustained attention (to keep driver engaged with driving task).¹  Executive attention allows the driver to monitor multiple aspects of a complex traffic situation and select what to focus on.²  Visual attention allows the driver to select what visual information is important and exclude unnecessary information in complex visual scenes.³
2. Executive function – this includes planning, decision making, self-regulation and mental flexibility which are all important in the task of driving.⁴
3. Memory – working memory is the short term, temporary information that the individual holds whilst using it to complete a task⁵.  Procedural memory is part of longterm memory and is the store of information needed to do an action e.g. start ignition in a car without conscious thought. 
4. Visuo spatial skill – individuals ability to identify visual and spatial relationships⁶.  This is needed to appreciate movement, distance perception and spatial navigation when driving.

^{Continued: Cognitive Function Author Lynne Hutton 10.10.19}

¹ Roca, Crundall, Moreno-Rios, Castro and Lupianez, 2013)

² Roca, Castro, Lopez-Ramon& Lupianez, 2011

³ Weaver, Bedard, McAuliffe &Parkkari, 2009

⁴ Squire, 2009

⁵ Asimakopulos, Boychuck, Sondergaard, Poulin, Menard & Korner-Bitensky, 2011

⁵ Baddeley,2012

⁶ Dickerson, Bradford & Alireza Atri (2014).  Dementia: Comprehensive principles and Practices.  Oxford University Press.  Pg 467-8.