The problem here is that you are being so vague that your comment can really only be understood if actually are talking about something 'supernatural'.

Biology is really not much more than a self-replicating subset of chemistry. Without evidence to suggest something sort of psuedo-supernatural difference between the simplest of single cell organisms and homo sapiens, I think the only reasonable position is that whatever it is that "preforms" intelligence falls under the realm of the physical sciences.

Until we acquire evidence to suggest otherwise, it is silly to assume anything else.