Rat Operant Conditioning System

A distinctive, automated device that enables the detailed and objective modeling of walking and coordination disorders in mice and/or rats, with a focus on motor and psychomotor skills, as well as cognition. A novel and operator-independent solution for the investigation of myopathy, ataxia, alcoholism, Parkinson's and Huntington's disease, and numerous other conditions.input:
output:Presentationinput:
output:The Foot Misplacement Apparatus (FMA) is a distinctive system that objectively detects gait or walking disorders, abnormalities of coordination, and motor or reflex problems in rodents (rat or mouse) in a highly accurate manner. It does this by recording the number, position, and duration of errors that an animal makes while walking in an opaque corridor on a horizontal ladder toward a dark compartment.



Two sets of 77 infrared sensors are positioned above and below the ladder to detect the subject's movement and any paw misplacements, and the ladder rungs can be removed to increase the difficulty of the exercise or create traps.input:
output:The instrument is of particular interest for studies on myopathy, ataxia, alcoholism, Parkinson's and Huntington's disease, recovery from brain or spinal cord injuries, and much more, as it enables the quantification of sensorimotor activity.input:
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Principle of operation

At the opposite ends of a horizontal ladder that is enclosed in a corridor, there are departure and arrival boxes. Infra-red beams and sensors (-77 sets above and below the ladder) detect the subject's movement along the length of the ladder and are employed to identify and document the precise position and duration of errors in motor coordination (missteps or paw slips between any two rungs). Erroneous tail errors and front and hind paw errors are distinguished by the software that is included.