Computer models of the brain--how far can they take us?

The recent developments in computer capacity and algorithms, together with a tremendous growth of data in neuroscience have dramatically improved the possibilities of modeling and simulating certain brain structures and activities with a considerable degree of realism. Although there is still a long way to go, some claim that we will one day be able to create artificial "brains" with similar capacity to the human brain, perhaps even surpassing it. Here we focus on these perspectives, discussing the potentials and limitations of today's computer models, and how far they might be able to take us.