Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 2, 2026

Study Motor Skill Learning by Single-pellet Reaching Tasks in Mice
06:04

Study Motor Skill Learning by Single-pellet Reaching Tasks in Mice

Published on: March 4, 2014

20.9K

Study motor skill learning by single-pellet reaching tasks in mice.

Chia-Chien Chen1, Anthony Gilmore1, Yi Zuo2

  • 1Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz.

Journal of Visualized Experiments : Jove
|March 19, 2014
PubMed
Summary

Mice learn skilled forelimb movements through a single-pellet reaching task. Once mastered, this motor skill is maintained without continuous practice, highlighting efficient learning and memory consolidation.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Adolescent Social Isolation Induces Persistent Impairments in Emotional Discrimination and Helping Behavior.

eNeuro·2026
Same author

Inhibition of Ice Recrystallization by Regulating the Surface Free Energy of Nanoparticles.

Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)·2026
Same author

Optical multistability in a compact microcavity enabled by near-exceptional coupling.

Nature nanotechnology·2026
Same author

Prenatal diagnosis and genetic counseling of a <i>de novo</i> 16q24.3 microdeletion in a Chinese family.

The Journal of international medical research·2026
Same author

Patient Cognitive Bias in Large Language Model-Supported Health Consultations: Simulation-Based Comparative Study.

Journal of medical Internet research·2026
Same author

Targeting tumor-associated G-protein coupled receptors: beyond single-axis inhibition toward multidimensional regulation.

Cellular oncology (Dordrecht, Netherlands)·2026

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Motor Control
  • Behavioral Science

Background:

  • Skilled forelimb movements, such as reaching and retrieving, are crucial for interacting with the environment.
  • Motor performance in these tasks improves with training but the mechanisms of skill acquisition and long-term maintenance remain areas of active investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To introduce and validate a single-pellet reaching task for studying the acquisition and maintenance of skilled forelimb movements in mice.
  • To provide a framework for analyzing and quantifying mouse behavior within this paradigm.

Main Methods:

  • A single-pellet reaching task was employed to train mice on a precise forelimb movement.
  • Behavioral categorization and quantitative analysis methods were developed to assess motor performance (accuracy and speed).

More Related Videos

A Fine Motor Task to Study Joint Kinematics in a Preclinical Model of Neurodegenerative Disease
05:39

A Fine Motor Task to Study Joint Kinematics in a Preclinical Model of Neurodegenerative Disease

Published on: June 13, 2025

1.0K
Automated Rat Single-Pellet Reaching with 3-Dimensional Reconstruction of Paw and Digit Trajectories
07:52

Automated Rat Single-Pellet Reaching with 3-Dimensional Reconstruction of Paw and Digit Trajectories

Published on: July 10, 2019

13.7K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 2, 2026

Study Motor Skill Learning by Single-pellet Reaching Tasks in Mice
06:04

Study Motor Skill Learning by Single-pellet Reaching Tasks in Mice

Published on: March 4, 2014

20.9K
A Fine Motor Task to Study Joint Kinematics in a Preclinical Model of Neurodegenerative Disease
05:39

A Fine Motor Task to Study Joint Kinematics in a Preclinical Model of Neurodegenerative Disease

Published on: June 13, 2025

1.0K
Automated Rat Single-Pellet Reaching with 3-Dimensional Reconstruction of Paw and Digit Trajectories
07:52

Automated Rat Single-Pellet Reaching with 3-Dimensional Reconstruction of Paw and Digit Trajectories

Published on: July 10, 2019

13.7K

Main Results:

  • Mice demonstrated progressive improvement in reaching accuracy and speed with repeated training.
  • Mastered reaching skills were maintained over time even without continuous practice, indicating robust motor learning and memory.

Conclusions:

  • The single-pellet reaching task is an effective paradigm for studying motor skill learning and memory in mice.
  • This behavioral platform, when combined with genetic approaches, can be used to investigate the neural and molecular basis of motor learning and memory.