Assessment of Cognitive and Sensorimotor Defi cits - Animal Models of Acute Neurological Injuries: Injury and Mechanistic Assessments - page 239

3. Data interpretation . The probe trial is a measure of long-term
spatial memory. Increased numbers of entries into the former
platform location and increased time spent searching the
proper quadrant during the probe trials suggest a spatial bias,
refl ecting memory for the former platform location. Note that
spending only 25% of the probe searching in the platform
quadrant suggests chance performance and a lack of spatial
bias. The spatial learning acquisition trials add more data
points to the spatial learning data set, allowing for potentially
tighter data and/or the observation of defi cits in “reversal
learning.”

3.9. Day 9: Water
Maze—Spatial
Location 3

1. Procedure . This day of testing will be identical to the previous
day, except that the escape platform will be moved to a new
location once the acquisition trials start.
2. Variables measured . Identical to the previous day.
3. Data interpretation . Additional data points allow for poten-
tially even tighter data and/or the observation of further defi -
cits in “reversal learning.”

3.10. Day 10: Water
Maze—Spatial
Location 3 Probe Trial

1. Procedure . This day of testing consists of only the probe trial
for spatial location 3.
2. Variables measured . Identical to the probe trial data collection
of the previous day.
3. Data interpretation . Additional data points allow for poten-
tially even tighter data and/or the observation of further defi -
cits in “reversal learning.”

4. Notes

1. For these tests (and all other behavioral tests in this battery),
do not attempt to stimulate or motivate unresponsive animals
(but make a note if the animal appears unresponsive for poten-
tial analysis of outliers).
2. For the wire hang test, assign a score of zero if the animal will
not grip the wire.
3. Tape placement is tricky and takes some practice. We currently
use Leukotape P, but other types of adhesive tape may work as
well.
4. We usually use the cylinder test only for unilateral models of
brain injury.
5. Examples and variations in published literature ( 2-8 ).

4.1. Day 1: Eye Blink,
Righting Ability, Beam
Balance, Footfall,
Inclined Plane, Wire
Hang, Adhesive Tape
Removal, Cylinder Test