Modeling of the main elements of human thinking - recognition of objects of the outside world and learning. Models created by nature itself are described - they arose in the simplest organisms in the process of evolution; mathematical and physical models; models implemented in various "artificial intelligence" systems. Sensorimotor systems and their modeling and issues related to modeling thinking are discussed: stream of consciousness, search for analogy, recall, etc. For physicists, mathematicians, biologists interested in the problems of natural and artificial intelligence.