Table 1. Neurological Severity Scores (NSS).
| Evaluation Items | 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 s | |
| Placing rat on the floor (normal=0; maximum=3) | 3 |
| 0 Normal walk | - |
| 1 Inability to walk straight | - |
| 2 Circling toward the paretic side | - |
| 3 Fall 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 s) | - |
| 4 Attempts to balance on the beam but falls off (>40 s) | - |
| 5 Attempts to balance on the beam but falls off (>20 s) | - |
| 6 Falls off: No attempt to balance or hang on to the beam (<20 s) | - |
| Reflexes absent and abnormal movements | 4 |
| 1 Pinna reflex (head shake when touching the auditory meatus) | - |
| 1 Corneal reflex (eye blink 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 a tested reflex; 13 to 18 indicates severe injury; 7 to 12, moderate injury; 1 to 6, mild injury.