The spinal cord is uniquely adapted to the "fight or flight" environment in which we evolved. Afferent pathways--bringing in sensory information--immediately connect to efferent--sending motor messages out. Long tracks send information to the brain for more complex integration.Some very successful organisms get along just fine, thanks, without much more than a spinal cord and a brain stem for autonomic functions.
Without your spinal cord, you are just a big brain on a stick! You can think a lot but cannot do anything about those thoughts! So, you can lose your PDA or your mind but you'd better not lose your spinal cord.
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