Table 1.
Modified neurological severity score points
| Tests | Points |
|---|---|
| Motor tests | |
| Raising the rat by the tail | |
| Flexion of forelimb | 1 |
| Flexion of hindlimb | 1 |
| Head moving more than 10° (vertical axis) | 1 |
| Placing the rat on the floor | |
| Inability to walk straight | 1 |
| Circling toward the paretic side | 1 |
| Falling down to the paretic side | 1 |
| Sensory tests | |
| Visual and tactile placing | 1 |
| Proprioceptive test (deep sensory) | 1 |
| Beam balance tests | |
| Grasps side of beam | 1 |
| Hugs the beam and one limb falls down from the beam | 2 |
| Hugs the beam and two limbs fall down from the beam or spins on beam (>60 s) | 3 |
| Attempts to balance on the beam but falls off (>40 s) | 4 |
| Attempts to balance on the beam but falls off (>20 s) | 5 |
| Falls off: no attempt to balance or hang on to the beam (<20 s) | 6 |
| Reflexes (blunt or sharp stimulation) absent of: | |
| Pinna reflex (a head shake when touching the auditory meatus) | 1 |
| Corneal reflex (an eye blink when lightly touching the cornea with cotton) | 1 |
| Startle reflex (a motor response to a brief loud paper noise) | 1 |
| Seizures, myoclonus, myodystony | 1 |
| Maximum points | 18 |
One point is awarded for the inability to perform the tasks or for the lack of a tested reflex; 13–18 indicates severe injury; 7–12, moderate injury; 1–6, mild injury.