Inventors:
Stephen C. Fowler - Lawrence KS
Troy Zarcone - Prairie Village KS
Assignee:
The University of Kansas - Lawrence KS
International Classification:
B63C 1102
Abstract:
A force plate actometer apparatus ( ) is provided which is designed for the efficient and accurate testing of in vivo subjects (e. g. , rats and mice) under the influence of drugs or other stimuli, and permits simultaneous determination of a number of attributes of movement of the subjects. The apparatus ( ) includes a force plate ( ), a plurality of transducers ( ) supporting the plate ( ), and a computer ( ) coupled to the outputs of the transducers ( ); an enclosure ( ) is positioned above the plate ( ) so as to confine the test subjects to a predetermined test area. Preferred software programs (4PLATES. PAS and OFFLINP. PAS) permit calculation and recording of test subject movement attributes derived from the variation over time of the location and/or magnitude of force exerted by the test subject on the plate ( ). Such attributes may include the position of the subject on the plate, distance traveled over a defined period, the angle and direction of rotation of movement, spatial statistic, stereotypy score, tremor, wall rearing and rhythmic behaviors.