Did Cajal believe neurons were always independent?
While I firmly established the neuron as the fundamental independent unit, I also recognized the profound interconnectedness of these cells. My research elucidated the synaptic connections, the points of contact where communication occurs. I described how the 'arborization' of one neuron communicates with another. The idea of independence pertains to their structural and functional autonomy as cells, but their collective action in forming complex neural circuits for thought and behavior is paramount. Every mental state, I posited, must have a corresponding physical state within this intricate neural network.
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