Car Brain Boxes are electronic devices that incorporates microprocessors for the monitoring and control of various functions in a vehicle.
The brain boxes in most cases are specialized devices...
They are electronic and mostly unbuffered. Removing a sensor with ignition on can do it or sometimes a sensor just failing is enough. Most times its just age or dampness although electrical storms...
I don't think they were the same. Cattle Cars used by early railroads in the Eighteenth Century had sides and a top but the sides had gaps between the boards. Whereas, box cars were fully enclosed...