Box 2: Behavioral tests usually employed to evaluate neurological function
Behavioral test	Description
Adhesive-removal test	In this test, adhesive paper dots are used as tactile stimuli on the wrist of each forelimb and the time necessary for animals to remove the tape is recorded.
Beam-walking test	In this test, the animal is placed on a beam, and beam walking is graded from easily traversed the beam, to unable to walk on the beam.
Bilateral grasp test	In this test, the animal’s paws is placed on the edge of a box and strength of the hemiparetic paw is graded from grasp well, to unable to grasp with forepaw.
Cylinder rearing test	In this test, the animal is placed in a transparent cylinder and the weight-bearing forepaw(s) to contact the wall during a full rear is recorded.
Foot-fault test	In this test, the total number of steps (movement of each forelimb) that an animal uses to cross the grid and the total numbers of foot faults for each forelimb is recorded.
Hemiparesis score	In this test, the hind limbs of each animal are gently extended with a round-tipped forceps and the flexor response is scored.
Ipsilateral circling test	In this test, the extent of circling to the side of the infusion is graded from no circling to always circling.
Limb placement test	In this test, four limbs of animals are evaluated by using the edges and top of a counter top.
Modified neurological severity score (mNSS) test	NSS is a composite of balance, reflex, sensory, and motor tests and the higher scores represent increased severity in injury.
Morris Water Maze test	In this test, the animal is placed in a tank of water with a hidden platform. During training trials, the latency to find the platform location is recorded. During experimental trials, the platform is removed, and the percentage of time spent in the quadrant that normally contains the platform is compared to the time spent in other quadrants.
Posture score	In this test, the animal is suspended by the tail and forelimb flexion and body twisting is scored.
Roger’s tests	In this test, the movement of an animal is scored from no deficit, to not responding to stimulation.
Rotarod test	In this test, the animal is placed on a rotating rod and the speed of the rotation is gradually increased. This test usually uses to assess sensorimotor coordination.
Stepping test	In this test, a wooden ramp with a length around 1 m connect a platform to the animal’s home cage. Initiation time, stepping time and step length is recorded when the animals move from the platform to their home cage.
Treadmill (stress) test	In this test, animals are placed on an accelerating treadmill and they should run and maintain their median position on the belt as its speed steadily increases. In the treadmill stress test, to avoid foot-shocks, animals have to move forward.