Neurobehavioral Assessments of Spinal Cord Injury

Experimental spinal cord injuries can be categorized as being mild, moderate, or severe, based upon the extent of tissue damage and the severity of functional deficit incurred. The level of injury and unilateral or bilateral nature of an injury also greatly impact upon whether deficits involve single or multiple limbs. Having these features in mind, the investigator is directed towards performing the appropriate neurobehavioral tests to assess the functional capabilities of injured animals before and after therapeutic interventions have been applied. An ideal test should use quantitative methods that can provide some insight into the physiological mechanisms involved in functional recovery.