Neurological Disorders: Inverted Screen

The Inverted Screen test is used to measure motor strength/coordination. Untrained mice are placed individually on top of a square (7.5 cm x 7.5 cm) wire screen which is mounted horizontally on a metal rod. The rod is then rotated 180° so that the mice are on the bottom of the screens. The following behavioral responses are recorded over a 1 min testing session: fell off, did not climb, and climbed up.

A motor strength deficit is apparent when there is a 50% point difference between homozygous and wild type mice for the fell down response. A motor impairment is also indicated by 0/8 or 1/8 homozygous mice failing to climb up (data not shown). Enhanced motor coordination is indicated by high ratios, 7/8 or 8/8, of homozygous mice climbing up on the inverted screen.

These data are presented in table format as illustrated below.