What do brains compute, and how do they do it? Has evolution conserved a small canonical set of computations performed by neural circuitry? In a just-published invited Perspective for the Journal of Computational Neuroscience, I present arguments for (and against) these fundamental questions. The title, Where are the cores in this thing? …and what are they computing? (with apologies to Larry Abbott) is of course an homage to Larry's 'Where are the switches on this thing?' It's Open Access and freely downloadable (tell your students and friends) at: https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10827-021-00809-1.pdf The very first sentence is: "Evolution conserves neural components and connectivity—does this extend to computations and circuitry?" I go on to note that independent of specific microcircuit connectivity, some key neuronal and network properties, conserved across all nervous systems, may be essential for computation. Candidates include irregular firing, stochastic plastic synapses, alternate A/D PSPs/spikes, nonlinear f-I, cellular longevity, dynamic but stable networks with both fixed and adaptive features, and local processing linked by distant connectivity for coherence and modulation. Collegially, I invite discussion. I also urge neuroscientists to add these questions to those that guide their own research, and I offer community efforts to widen the scope. ...Daniel Gardner, Ph.D. dan@med.cornell.edu dg458@columbia.edu Head, Laboratory of Neuroinformatics Professor Physiology & Biophysics/Neurology/Neuroscience Weill Medical College of Cornell University lab: (212) 746-6373 cell: (917) 902-0654