Final answer:
The statement is true; the autonomic nervous system has two peripheral synapses involving preganglionic and postganglionic neurons, unlike the somatic nervous system, which has only one.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement is true: unlike the somatic nervous system (SNS), which has only one synapse in the periphery, the autonomic nervous system (ANS) typically has two peripheral synapses. The ANS is divided into the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems, which work antagonistically. In the ANS, a preganglionic neuron from the central nervous system (CNS) synapses with a postganglionic neuron in the peripheral nervous system (PNS), which then acts on a target organ. This pathway involves two synapses - one between the preganglionic and postganglionic neuron and another between the postganglionic neuron and the target organ.