Since the 1950s cognitive psychologists have used concepts developed for the analysis of computing systems as ways of understanding the mind. This is often referred to as the "computer metaphor" of the mind. Today some aspects of the computer metaphor are essential in understanding data obtained from direct observations of the brain. In spite of its importance, the computer metaphor is often misunderstood. For instance, it does not imply that humans are always logical and rational! In this talk I will explain what the computer model is, show how it relates to recent findings in the neurosciences, and close by describing how the computer model can assist us in addressing some very important issues about behavior that cannot be addressed by the neurosciences now, and possibly not ever..