Abnormal air-righting reflex in striatal rats

To understand dynamic postural control of the higher brain, we compared air-righting reflexes in various decerebrate rats. Post-operative 3-5 d thalamic and mesencephalic rats displayed almost similar righting movements as intact. However, in striatal animals, coordination of righting movements was disrupted. The higher brain without cortical control could interfere with the brainstem center of the air-righting reflex.