The metaphor for cognitive science is not that the mind is a computer, but a

• A. Biological machine
• B. Computer program
• C. Social construct
• D. Electrical network

Answer: (B)

The idea being tested is that cognitive processes are best described as software-like programs running on the brain, not as a literal machine or a social construct. In cognitive science, researchers model mental operations as representations and algorithms that process information, change with learning, and produce behaviors as the result of rule-governed computations. Framing the mind as a computer program captures this view: cognition is about how data are manipulated according to rules, rather than about the brain simply being a biological machine or the mind being defined by social factors alone or by electrical wiring. The computer program metaphor thus highlights the software-like, algorithmic nature of cognitive processes, which is why it aligns most closely with how cognitive scientists model and study the mind.