Locomotor Activity
Locomotor activity: This test is conducted for various time intervals, but typically 1 h in 5 min intervals. The test is fully automated. Test chambers are 42 x 42 cm with infrared LED-photo-detectors spaced every 2.5 cm. The system records horizontal activity, total distance (cm), central vs. peripheral movement or time, vertical movement, repetitive movements, and time in different zones. Locomotor activity measures exploration in response to a novel environment, habituation rate (as the environment become familiar), and baseline spontaneous ambulation. Central zone movement is an index of anxiety, repetitive movement suggests stereotypy (this must be interpedently confirmed by direct observation using a standardized rating scale), and depends on intake basal ganglia (caudate-putamen) function.
