Table 1.

Developmental motor skills

Righting

1 =  cannot roll over, yet moves extremities

2 =  uses excess compensatory movements such as pelvic flexion and hindlimbs over the head, but does not turn to prone position

3 =  strongly rotates head and body, eventually moving to prone position

4 =  rotates with forelimbs/shoulder/upper trunk and head to left and right many times before hindlimb/pelvis rotation to turn completely to prone position

5 =  forelimbs/upper trunk and head rotate smoothly with subsequent fluid rotation of hindlimbs to turn to prone position

Spatial orientation

1 =  slides off board

2 =  pushes nose down on surface or extends forelimbs; if rat turns, it uses only hindlimbs

3 =  moves mainly with hindlimbs; pivots around forelimbs; some active use of left forelimb

4 =  uses left and right forelimb to initiate the turn, and after turning halfway around, repositions the body with the hindlimbs

5 =  lateral stepping (paw over paw) with both forelimbs; turns around with a smooth, coordinated repositioning of the hindlimbs

Chin placing

Forelimb use

0 =  n/a

1 =  no placing of either forelimb

2 =  places one forelimb

3 =  places both forelimbs, (reciprocal or symmetrical)

Compensations in the absence of limb use

0 =  no movement to stimulus

1 =  rotates head to left or right

2 =  random forelimb movements; no placing

Grasping

Forelimb use

1 =  unable to grasp

2 =  one forepaw grasps

3 =  bilateral forepaw use, then only one forepaw grasps

4 =  bilateral forepaw grasp

5 =  bilateral forepaw grasp; repositions both forelimbs

Proximal control

1 =  pulls body over bar; tries to hang on with forelimbs; ends up upside down

2 =  hangs and drops

3 =  achieves a momentary chin-up, then hangs or hindlimbs swing up to grip

4 =  repetitively alternates between maintaining a tight chin-up and hanging with minimal to little hindlimb grasp

5 =  chin-up; no hindlimb attempts at gripping

Grooming

Quadrant 1 = left eye and upper face

Quadrant 2 = right eye and upper face

Quadrant 3 = left lower face

Quadrant 4 = right lower face

Locomotion

1 =  drags right forelimb over obstacle or bumps into obstacle before placing limb over obstacle (i.e., no anticipatory right forelimb movements to avoid contacting the obstacle)

2 =  anticipates obstacle during locomotion with all four limbs, but inadequately clears the obstacle during swing-through with right forelimb

3 =  steps over and completely clears obstacles with both forelimbs