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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2010 Jun 1.
Published in final edited form as: J Speech Lang Hear Res. 2008 Aug 22;52(3):732–744. doi: 10.1044/1092-4388(2008/08-0105)

Table 1.

Summary of the stages of animal preparation, measurement and training following arrival and acclimation to the animal care facility. EMP= estimated maximum press; 99th percentile of observed maximum force distribution. MVTF = maximum voluntary tongue force; SD= standard deviation

Stages of Training
Days Stage Description Measures
1–14 Animal preparation Arrival and acclimation to animal care facility, light cycle reversal, and Water restriction to 3 hr/day None
15–25 Introductory Period: Force Operandum Acclimation Trained to operate force operandum Number of tongue presses > 0.2 g
26–28 Baseline Increment Testing Force threshold incremented in 0.2g steps

  1. EMP (g)

  2. Number of tongue presses > 0.2 g

  3. Mean MVTF (g)
29–84 Tongue Force Exercise Trained at 50, 60, 70, 80% of EMP

  1. Number of tongue Presses ≥ threshold

  2. Body Weight (g)
85–87 Post-exercise Increment Testing Force threshold incremented in 0.2g steps

  1. Number of tongue presses > 0.2 g

  2. Mean MVTF (g)