Method for verifying the calculator core of a microprocessor or a microcontroller

A method for checking a microprocessor for correct operation, the microprocessor having a plurality of gates, each having a plurality of transistors, in which during the intended running of a computer program on the microprocessor a self-test is cyclically executed, and as part of the self-test, gates in the microprocessor are checked for correct operation. In order to check the microprocessor for correct operation in such a way that the functional check is able to detect at an early stage such errors which occur only during the intended operation of the microprocessor, and to the extent possible not to make use of models of the open-loop or closed-loop control algorithms, at least those gates of the microprocessor whose state has an impact on the intended running of the computer program on the microprocessor are checked during one run of the self-test.