Abstract
Synapses are the structural components developed by nature to allow neuronal communication and consequently they are the fundamental sites at which the integrative functions of the central nervous system, such as intelligence and others activities of integration of less importance, are carried through. In this contribution, from both phylogenetic and ontogenetic points of view, the origin of synapses was analyzed and commented in relation to the evolution of intelligence on Earth, herein interpreted as the capacity of matter to understand matter. This approach could also be useful for the comprehension of extraterrestrial intelligence.
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Centro de Microscopía Electrónica, Universidad de Los Andes, P. O. Box 163, Mérida 5101-A, Venezuela.
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Palacios-PrÜ, E. (2000). Origin of Synapses: A Scientific Account or the Story of a Hypothesis. In: Chela-Flores, J., Lemarchand, G.A., Oró, J. (eds) Astrobiology. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-4313-4_16
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-4313-4_16
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