FIG. 2.

Coating of cylinders with polyurea is necessary for mitigation of behavioral deficits following under-vehicle blast. Rats were restrained on the top of a simulated vehicle that incorporated either uncoated or polyurea-coated aluminum cylinders, resulting in maximal acceleration of 2350g and 550g, respectively. (A) Polyurea-coated cylinders protected rats from loss of spontaneous alternation in the Y maze at day 0 (^*,#p < 0.05, ^##p < 0.01; n = 10–16) and at day 6 (^##p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001). (B) Polyurea-coated cylinders were also effective at protecting against anxiety behavior, which was inversely related to the time rats spent in the open arms of the elevated Plus maze. (***p < 0.001, ^#p < 0.05, *p < 0.05; n = 10–16).