Table 1.

The SHIRPA scoring system

Observation	Points
Body position	0 = active; 1 = inactive; 2 = excessive activity
Tremor	0 = present; 1 = absent
Palpebral closure	0 = present; 1 = absent
Coat appearance and color	0 = normal; 1 = abnormal
Whiskers	0 = present; 1 = absent
Lacrimation	0 = present; 1 = absent
Defecation	0 = present; 1 = absent
Transfer arousal	0 = extended freeze; 1 = brief freeze; 2 = immediate movement
Locomotor activity	Total # of squares entered in 30 seconds
Gait	0 = fluid movement; 1 = lack of fluidity
Tail elevation	0 = dragging; 1 = horizontal extension; 2 = elevated/straub tail
Startle response	0 = preyer reflex; 1 = absent; 2 = reaction in addition to reflex
Touch Escape	0 = none; 1 = response to touch; 2 = flees prior to touch
Positional passivity	0 = struggles when held by tail; 1 = struggles when scuffed; 2 = struggles when laid supine; 3 = no struggle
Skin color	0 = pale; 1 = pink; 2 = red
Trunk curl	0 = present; 1 = absent
Limb grasping	0 = present; 1 = absent
Visual placing	0 = present; 1 = absent
Righting reflex	0 = present; 1 = absent
Pinnal reflex	0 = present; 1 = absent
Contact righting reflex	0 = present; 1 = absent
Corneal reflex	0 = present; 1 = absent
Biting	0 = present; 1 = absent
Vocalization	0 = present; 1 = absent
Morphology	0 = normal; 1 = abnormal
Tail pinch	0 = response; 1 = no response
Pupillary light reflex	0 = present; 1 = absent

Note: The SHIRPA scoring system contains three phases: observation in cage, removal of the cage and placement onto an arena, and then provocative testing. SHIRPA: SmithKline Beecham, Harwell, Imperial College, Royal London Hospital, Phenotype Assessment.