def numberOfConnectedProximalSynapses(self, cells=None):
    """
    Returns the number of proximal connected synapses on these cells.

    Parameters:
    ----------------------------
    @param  cells (iterable)
            Indices of the cells. If None return count for all cells.
    """
    if cells is None:
      cells = xrange(self.numberOfCells())

    return _countWhereGreaterEqualInRows(self.proximalPermanences, cells,
                                         self.connectedPermanenceProximal)