Beam Walk Test for Motor Function

The beam walk test was utilized to evaluate fine motor coordination and function [24] (link). Mice escaped a bright light and loud white noise by walking along an elevated (50 cm) narrow wooden beam (0.8 cm×100 cm) to enter a darkened goal box at the opposite end of the beam. The time required for the mouse to reach the goal box (not to exceed 60 s) and hindlimb performance as it traversed the beam (based on a 1 to 7 rating scale) were recorded. A score of 7 was given when animals traversed the beam with 2 or less foot slips; 6 was given when animals traversed the beam with less than 50% foot slips; 5 was given for more than 50% but less than 100% foot slips; 4 was given for 100% foot slips; 3 was given for traversal with the affected limb extended and not reaching the surface of the beam; 2 was given when the animal was able to balance on the beam but not traverse it; 1 was given when the animal could not balance on the beam. Three trials were recorded 1 h before CCI (baseline) and each day after CCI. The mean values of latency and score for each day were computed.