1,145
edits
Changes
added some more behaviors
== Scoring Locomotor Activity ==
== Scoring Locomotor Activity ==
After the 30-min magnet or sham exposure, mice were placed in an open Plexiglas cage (37 x 47 x 20 cm) with cob bedding in the same room as the magnet and sham– magnet. The locomotor behavior of the mice was video-recored for 2 min and the mice were then returned to their home cages in the animal facility room. Two minutes was chosen because in previous experiments almost all circling behavior ends within 2 min. Behavior was scored for number of rears (with at least one paw touching cage side) or tight circling (complete turns with a diameter no longer than the body of the mouse) by an individual blind to treatment condition.
===For Most Mice===
After the 30-min magnet or sham exposure, mice were placed in an open Plexiglas cage (37 x 47 x 20 cm) with pine-chip bedding in the same room as the magnet and sham– magnet. The locomotor behavior of the mice was video-recorded for 2 min and the mice were then returned to their home cages in the animal facility room. Two minutes was chosen because in previous experiments almost all circling behavior ends within 2 min. Behavior was scored for i) number of rears (with at least one paw touching cage side), ii) latency to rear, iii) tight circling (complete and continuous turns with a diameter no longer than the body of the mouse; clockwise (CW) and counterclockwise (CC) circling were scored separately), or iv) immobility (in Experiment 1; duration of inactivity longer than 10 seconds during which there was no grooming, foraging, or exploratory behavior) by an individual blind to treatment condition. [EDIT FOR SPECIFIC BEHAVIORS]
===For EL Mice===
(scored by Alison Hood)
Immediately after the 30-min magnet or sham exposure, mice were placed individually in an open Plexiglas cage (37 x 47 x 20 cm) with pince-chip bedding in the same room as the magnet and sham-magnet. Each mouse was videotaped for 10 minutes and then returned to their home cage. Ten minutes was selected because EL mice displayed 5-10 of immobility after a seizure.
The presence and frequency of several behaviors were scored:
* Rearing: latency to rear and number of rears with at least one front paw touching side of cage.
* Circling : number of complete and continuous turns with a diameter no longer than the body of the mouse. Clockwise (CW) and counterclockwise (CC) circling were scored separately.
* Trembling: the occurrence of full or slightly, full body high or low amplitude tremor, most often accompanied by head bobbing and difficulty walking. [DEFINE FULL, SLIGHTLY, & LOW]
* Head bobbing: uncontrolled head movement and weaving [MORE DEFINITION]
* Seizure: occurrence of an epileptic episode involving the entire body characterized by a series of high pitched vocal sounds, muscle rigidity, and the tail extending straight out and flexing rostrally over the body. and then points over the body and muscle rigidy. A seizure is usually followed by reptitive turning of the head from left to right.
* Immobility: duration of inactivity longer than 10 seconds during which there is no grooming, foraging, or exploratory behavior;
* Jumping: number of times the mouse jumps with all paws off the floor while in the “rearing” position.
[[Category:Magnetic_Fields]]
[[Category:Magnetic_Fields]]