Source Paper
Assessment of Motor Balance and Coordination in Mice using the Balance Beam
Tinh N. Luong, Holly J. Carlisle, Amber Southwell, Paul H. Patterson
Journal of Visualized Experiments • 2011
View Abstract
Brain injury, genetic manipulations, and pharmacological treatments can result in alterations of motor skills in mice. Fine motor coordination and balance can be assessed by the beam walking assay. The goal of this test is for the mouse to stay upright and walk across an elevated narrow beam to a safe platform. This test takes place over 3 consecutive days: 2 days of training and 1 day of testing. Performance on the beam is quantified by measuring the time it takes for the mouse to traverse the beam and the number of paw slips that occur in the process. Here we report the protocol used in our laboratory, and representative results from a cohort of C57BL/6 mice. This task is particularly useful for detecting subtle deficits in motor skills and balance that may not be detected by other motor tests, such as the Rotarod.
Balance Beam Walk Assay
Objective: Assessment of fine motor coordination and balance in mice by measuring the time to traverse an elevated narrow beam and counting paw slips
This is a Balance Beam Walk Assay protocol using mouse as the model organism. The procedure involves 3 procedural steps, 1 equipment items. Extracted from a 2011 paper published in Journal of Visualized Experiments.
Model and subjects
mouse • C57BL/6 • unknown • Not specified • Not specified
Study window
Estimated timing pending
Core workflow
Training Day 1 • Training Day 2 • Testing Day
Primary readouts
- Time to traverse the beam
- Number of paw slips during beam crossing
Key equipment and reagents
Verified items
0
Direct vendor links
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Protocol Steps
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Training Day 1
First day of training where mice learn to traverse the beam
Note: Part of 3 consecutive day protocol
View evidence from paper
“This test takes place over 3 consecutive days: 2 days of training and 1 day of testing”
Training Day 2
Second day of training where mice continue to learn beam traversal
Note: Part of 3 consecutive day protocol
View evidence from paper
“This test takes place over 3 consecutive days: 2 days of training and 1 day of testing”
Testing Day
Final day where performance is measured and quantified
Note: Performance metrics are recorded on this day
View evidence from paper
“This test takes place over 3 consecutive days: 2 days of training and 1 day of testing”