hmm
hmm, some nice posts out there. Yeah, using an electrical signal instead of the action potential of a neural signal would be better. However it would require metalic atoms, and only recently was an animal observed with the ability to manipulate large amounts of metal. Some small insect was found about a year ago to have jaws hardened by copper, this is really insteresting. Having a copper based system for sending signals would be quicker, but you would be more prone to electromagnetic radiation. Right now we can aim a HUGE magnet and manipulate the neurons, but if your neural system is largely made out of copper your more sensitive. However, the increased sensitivity could be much smaller, I just don't know. Now that I think about it...long coiled coil filaments of alpha helix covered with extensive amounts of copper ions at the center....hmm. Yeah, our current tranmission speed is WAY slower then what simple wiring would do.
The biggest thing holding back our mental evolution is women. Well, specificially the size of their hip bone. Right now our big brain has alot of difficutly getting through the birth canal, and thus is limited in size. However...cesarian sections are becoming more popular so this might have an effect...While natural selection doesn't really have a role in human society, there are still sexual preferances. Guys/Girls with brains are usually considered better suitors, so this explains the continued evolutionary pressure for more intelligence.