Behavioral Testing in Rodent Models of Stroke

The critical test of a therapeutic intervention is whether it affects clinically relevant outcomes. Reliable tests of functional outcome, therefore, represent a vital part of preclinical stroke research. This chapter presents select behavioral tests commonly used for evaluating somatosensory, locomotor, skilled, and cognitive functions in rodent models of stroke. The methods described emphasize the value of careful quantitative and qualitative assessment of acute and long-term behavioral deficits. Some of the protocols presented allow us to determine whether a preclinical treatment restores the original function or simply enhances the performance by improving the learning of alternative strategies. Recommendations are given for the selection of tests designed to detect chronic deficits and subsequent improvements in experimental stroke.