Observational methods used to assess rat behavior: neurological testing

INTRODUCTIONThe rat is the most frequently used animal for behavioral experiments, and several methods can be used to assess behavioral changes that result from modifications to its nervous system. Objective neurological tests can be used to establish a "behavioral baseline" for a normal animal, and to study the effects of drugs or a lesion on behavior. Neurological tests should be administered much like a doctor would administer a battery of tests after a trauma, with objective observation, precise documentation, and repeated measurements by the same experimenter. This protocol outlines a series of neurological tests designed to assess reflex movements in the rat. Male or female rats may be used, although data should be analyzed separately to determine if sex differences exist.