Table I.

Neurological Severity Score.

Test	Points
Motor tests
Raising rat by the tail	3
1 Flexion of forelimb
1 Flexion of hindlimb
1 Head moved >10° to vertical axis within 30 sec
Placing rat on the floor (normal=0; maximum=3)	3
0 Normal walk
1 Inability to walk straight
2 Circling towards the paretic side
3 Falling down to the paretic side
Sensory tests	2
1 Placing test (visual and tactile test)
2 Proprioceptive test (deep sensation, pushing the paw against the table edge to stimulate limb muscles)
Beam balance tests (normal=0; maximum=6)	6
0 Balances with steady posture
1 Grasps side of beam
2 Hugs the beam and one limb falls down from the beam
3 Hugs the beam and two limbs fall down from the beam, or spins on beam (>60 sec)
4 Attempts to balance on the beam but falls off (>40 sec)
5 Attempts to balance on the beam but falls off (>20 sec)
6 Falls off: No attempt to balance or hang on to the beam (<20 sec)
Reflexes absent and abnormal movements	4
1 Pinna reflex (shakes head when touching the auditory meatus)
1 Corneal reflex (blinks with eye when lightly touching the cornea with cotton)
1 Startle reflex (motor response to a brief noise from snapping a clipboard paper)
1 Seizures, myoclonus, myodystony
Maximum points	18

One point is awarded for the inability to perform the tasks or for the lack of an assessed reflex; 13–18, severe injury; 7–12, moderate injury; 1–6, mild injury.