Table 2: Overview of both neurological subsystems, working in parallel. The multi-synaptical is the one more related to the ‘run on idle’ modus of the organism, the right one to (volitional) activities. The more the fast part of the system is used; we could say ‘employed’, the higher the costs on the muscular and on the cerebral part.

 

Multi-synaptic

Less synapses

Conduction speed

Slow

Fast

Quality

Multi-modal

Specific

Information

Postural information

(form/ reshaping)

Phasic information

(movement)

Somatotopy

Diffuse

Marked

Destination

Reticular formation, medial thalamic nuclei, limbic system

Via lateral thalamus

towards cortex

Function

Emotional, behavioral and arousal mechanism

Sensorial, cognitive and evaluative discrimination