Originally posted by Yatahaze

I don't see how the transmission of an electric signal over one synapse and back to its origin classifies as intelligent.
Touch hot stove. Pain registered > electical signal sent to spine. The spine in turn sends appropriate signal back to arm and specific muscles, making them contract in a way that removes your hand from the hot stove, thereby stopping you from burning yourself. The result is intelligence, without the brain being involved at all.

You might have even felt this yourself. Ever grabbed something that was hot or burnt yourself on an iron? You might have noticed that you react before you feel the pain, or before your brain registers the pain. Because the signal and relay only has to reach the spine, the reaction is almost instant, and quicker than it would have been if the brain was involved.