Table 3.

Modified DeSimoni neuroscore for the assessment of focal deficits

No.	General versus focal deficits	Objective	Assessment/instruction	Score = 0	Score = 1	Score = 2	Score = 3	Score = 4	Summative score
6	Focal deficits	Body symmetry	Mouse on OS, observation of undisturbed resting behaviour and description of the virtual nose–tail line	Normal. a, Body: normal posture, trunk elevated from the bench, with forelimbs and hindlimbs leaning beneath the body. b, Tail: straight	Slight asymmetry. a, Body: leans on one side with forelimbs and hindlimbs leaning beneath the body. b, Tail: slightly bent	Moderate asymmetry. a, Body: leans on one side with forelimbs and hindlimbs stretched out. b, Tail: slightly bent	Clear asymmetry. a, Body leans on one. b, Tail: clearly bent	Complete asymmetry. a, Body. b, Tail	0–4
7	Focal deficits	Gait	Mouse on OS. Observation of undisturbed movements	Normal. Gait is flexible, symmetric, and quick	Stiff, inflexible. The mouse walks humpbacked, slower than normal mice	Limping with asymmetric movements	More severe limping, drifting, falling with obvious deficiency in gait	Does not walk spontaneously. (In this case, stimulation will be performed gently pushing the mouse with a pen. When stimulated, the mouse walks no longer than three steps.)	0–4
8	Focal deficits	Climbing	Mouse is placed in the center of a gripping surface at an angle of 45° to OS	Normal. The mouse climbs quickly	Climbs slowly, limb weakness present	Holds onto slope, does not slip or climb	Slides down slope; difficulty to prevent fall	Slides down slope, unsuccessful effort to prevent fall	0–4
9	Focal deficits	Circling behavior	Mouse on OS. Observation of the mouse walking undisturbed on the OS	Circling behavior absent. The mouse turns equally to left or right	Predominantly one-sided turns. Optional: record to which side the mouse turns	Circles to one side, although not constantly	Circles constantly to one side. This one is now highlighted in yellow	No movements	0–4
10	Focal deficits	Forelimb symmetry	Mouse suspended by the tail. Movements and position of forelimbs are observed	Normal. Both forelimbs are extended towards the bench and move actively	Light asymmetry. Contralateral forelimb does not extend entirely	Marked asymmetry. Contralateral forelimb bends towards the trunk. The body slightly bends on the side ipsilateral to the stroke	Prominent asymmetry. Contralateral forelimb adheres to the trunk	Slight asymmetry, no body/limb movement	0–4
11	Focal deficits	Compulsory circling	Forelimbs on bench, hindlimbs suspended by the tail. This position reveals the presence of the contralateral limb palsy. In this handstand position, limb weakness is displayed by a circling behavior when the animal attempts forward motion	Absent. Normal extension of both forelimbs	Both forelimbs extended but begins to circle predominantly to one side	Circles only to one side and may fall to one side	Pivots to one side sluggishly and does not rotate in a full circle. Mouse will fall to one side	No or rare movements	0–4
12	Focal deficits	Gripping of the forepaw	Mouse is held by the tail on the wire bar cage lid, so that the forepaws touch the grid	Mouse grasps the grid firmly with forepaws and tries to place the hind paws also onto the grid by pulling the hindpaws under the body	Mouse accesses the grid but has less power. A slight pull breaks the grip of the forepaws	Mouse cannot grip with the impaired forepaw	Mouse cannot grip the grid		0–3
									0–27