Name: Investigating Motor Skill Learning Processes with a Robotic Manipulandum (Video) | JoVE Journal
Uploaded: 2017-02-12T15:00:00.000+00:00
Duration: 7 min 52 s
Description: Learn automated skilled reaching tasks in rats using a robotic manipulandum for motor skill learning research. This method enables objective kinematic analysis of motor function recovery after brain damage.

ai_agent_IP

ai_agent

maintenance

instantTrialDurationMinutes

isBiopharma

enableNewMyJoveSectionDesign

educationFeatures

seoMetaApi

ai_copilot_institution_blacklist

ai_chat_institution_blacklist

freeAccessWindow

ssoRoleCapture

scheduledMaintenanceBanner

joveLabsFeatures

disable_autoplay_for_bots

extended_trial_duration

5 minutes

This research was supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation, the Betty and David Koetser Foundation for Brain Research and the ETH Foundation.

The experiments presented here were approved by the Veterinary Office of the Canton of Zurich, Switzerland and were carried out according to national and institutional regulations.
1. Feeding Conditions
NOTE: All training sessions are performed under a scheduled feeding protocol.
<ol>
	<li>Feed the rats 50 g/kg of standard chow once per day, after training is completed. This amount of food is sufficient to prevent major weight loss (body weight is &#62;90% of free-feeding weight), but small enough to ensure reproducible behavioral conditioning. Weigh the rats daily to ensure their body weight remains stable. 
	NOTE:&#160;Additional overnight (10-12 h) food deprivation may be useful prior to the first reward-touch session (step 2.3).</li>
</ol>
2. Training Procedure for a Reach-and-pull Task
<ol>
	<li>Preparation: Allow the rats to habituate to their new home cages for at least a week after arrival in the animal facility. Handle the rats regularly during this time and give dustless precision pellets in the home cage to habituate the rats to the new food. These pellets will be used as rewards throughout the training protocol.</li>
	<li>Habituation: Place the rats in the testing cage for 30-45 min and provide 30-50 pellets in the feeding bowl, mixed with powdered chow. Open and close the cage window and run the pellet dispenser occasionally to habituate the rats to their sound.
	<ol>
		<li>Repeat this for 2-3 days.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Reward-touch: Train the rats to touch the spherical handle through the cage window and to then move to the opposite side of the cage to retrieve a food reward.
	<ol>
		<li>Adjust the software settings so that the handle is located just outside the testing cage window at the start of each trial and align the handle with the center of the cage window. When the trials are successful, i.e., as soon as a light touch on the handle (0.25 mm displacement in any direction) has been detected, a tone sounds and a reward is dispensed. Classify trials as failed when no touch has been detected for 180 s after the window opens.</li>
		<li>Put the rat in the training cage. Prompt the rat to reach out by letting it grab at a pellet held near the handle. Direct the rat&#39;s attention to the handle and food bowl by tapping on the cage.</li>
		<li>Stop prompting when the rat independently reaches through the cage window and retrieves the food pellet.</li>
		<li>Continue until 100 trials (touches) are completed or until 60 min have passed, whichever comes first.</li>
		<li>Continue training for 3-4 days and begin the next stage of training (step 2.4) when rats achieve 100 trials within 30 min on 2 consecutive days. 
		NOTE: Do not over-train this step. The goal of reward-touch is to achieve reliable interaction between the rat and robot, so that this behavior can be shaped in subsequent training.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Free pull (FP): Train the rats to reach out and pull the robot&#39;s handle.
	<ol>
		<li>Adjust the software settings so that the handle is located 18 mm from the window at the start of each trial, and must be pulled for at least 10 mm without interruption for a successful trial. There are no lateral restrictions on the pulling movement in this stage.
		<ol>
			<li>Classify a trial as failed when the handle has not been moved for 180 s after the window opens, when the handle is moved outside of the reachable workspace (more than 12 mm from midline), or when the rat has pulled less than 10 mm within 5 s after the first touch has been detected.</li>
		</ol>
		</li>
		<li>Take note of the number of times the left and right paw are used during the first 20 trials of the first FP session. The paw that is used in at least 80% of the trials is considered the preferred paw. 
		NOTE: Paw preference may already be clear in reward-touch sessions.</li>
		<li>Move the handle laterally until it is aligned with the edge of the window to facilitate pulling with the preferred paw (i.e. move the robot 5 mm to the left side of the window for right-handed rats and vice-versa). 
		NOTE: Place the handle in this exact same position relative to the cage for all following training sessions for this rat. Assure exact placement by marks on the cage wall and on the robot.</li>
		<li>Put the rat in the training cage and train until 100 trials are completed or until 60 min have passed, whichever comes first. 
		NOTE: If the rat does not reach out far enough, prompt it by letting it grab at a pellet held near the handle. Rats may stop trying to pull after repeated failed attempts. Tap on the cage, let them grab for pellets held with a pair of forceps or dispense a pellet to restore their motivation.</li>
		<li>For experiments involving only FP training, continue training as described in 2.4. 
		NOTE: Typically, 1-2 FP sessions are needed to help transition from reward touch to SP(Straight Pull) training. The goal of these FP sessions is to habituate rats to reach out, grab and pull the handle, rather than to only touch it. As with reward-touch training, it is important not to over-train if the goal is to transition to a next training step.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Straight pull (SP): Train the rats to pull the handle without deviating more than 2 mm from midline. 
	NOTE: The midline is defined relative to the start position of the robot, not to the midpoint of the cage window. Thus, a pulling attempt ending at the midpoint of the cage window will result in a pulling trajectory that deviates more than 2 mm from midline.
	<ol>
		<li>Adjust the software settings so that only trials where the pulling movement does not deviate more than 2 mm from midline on either side are rewarded by a tone and a pellet. Keep all other parameters as described in step 2.4.</li>
		<li>Put the rat in the training cage and train until 100 trials are completed or until 60 min have passed, whichever comes first. 
		NOTE: Rats may become extremely agitated and stop trying to pull after repeated failed attempts. Tap on the cage to redirect their attention to the reaching task, let them grab for pellets held with a pair of forceps or dispense a pellet to restore their motivation.</li>
		<li>Continue training until the rats reach plateau performance, or adapt the training period according to the goal of an experiment.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>

<ol><li>Irvine, K. -A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((A+novel+method+for+assessing+proximal+and+distal+forelimb+function+in+the+rat%3A+the+Irvine%2C+Beatties+and+Bresnahan+%28IBB%29+forelimb+scale%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22JoVE%22%5BJournal%5D)">A novel method for assessing proximal and distal forelimb function in the rat: the Irvine, Beatties and Bresnahan (IBB) forelimb scale.</a> JoVE. (46), (2010).</li>
<li>Ballermann, M., Metz, G. A., McKenna, J. E., Klassen, F., Whishaw, I. Q. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((The+pasta+matrix+reaching+task%3A+a+simple+test+for+measuring+skilled+reaching+distance%2C+direction%2C+and+dexterity+in+rats%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22J+Neurosci+Meth%22%5BJournal%5D)">The pasta matrix reaching task: a simple test for measuring skilled reaching distance, direction, and dexterity in rats.</a> J Neurosci Meth. 106 (1), 39-45 (2001).</li>
<li>Kemble, E. D., Wimmer, S. C., Konkler, A. P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Effects+of+varied+prior+manipulatory+or+consummatory+behaviours+on+nut+opening%2C+predation%2C+novel+foods+consumption%2C+nest+building%2C+and+food+tablet+grasping+in+rats%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Behav+Proc%22%5BJournal%5D)">Effects of varied prior manipulatory or consummatory behaviours on nut opening, predation, novel foods consumption, nest building, and food tablet grasping in rats.</a> Behav Proc. 8 (1), 33-44 (1983).</li>
<li>Buitrago, M. M., Ringer, T., Schulz, J. B., Dichgans, J., Luft, A. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Characterization+of+motor+skill+and+instrumental+learning+time+scales+in+a+skilled+reaching+task+in+rat%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Behav+Brain+Res%22%5BJournal%5D)">Characterization of motor skill and instrumental learning time scales in a skilled reaching task in rat.</a> Behav Brain Res. 155 (2), 249-256 (2004).</li>
<li>Whishaw, I. Q., Pellis, S. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((The+structure+of+skilled+forelimb+reaching+in+the+rat%3A+A+proximally+driven+movement+with+a+single+distal+rotatory+component%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Behav+Brain+Res%22%5BJournal%5D)">The structure of skilled forelimb reaching in the rat: A proximally driven movement with a single distal rotatory component.</a> Behav Brain Res. 41 (1), 49-59 (1990).</li>
<li>Hays, S. A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((The+isometric+pull+task%3A+a+novel+automated+method+for+quantifying+forelimb+force+generation+in+rats%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22J+Neurosci+Meth%22%5BJournal%5D)">The isometric pull task: a novel automated method for quantifying forelimb force generation in rats.</a> J Neurosci Meth. 212 (2), 329-337 (2013).</li>
<li>Sharp, K. G., Duarte, J. E., Gebrekristos, B., Perez, S., Steward, O., Reinkensmeyer, D. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Robotic+Rehabilitator+of+the+Rodent+Upper+Extremity%3A+A+System+and+Method+for+Assessing+and+Training+Forelimb+Force+Production+after+Neurological+Injury%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22J+Neurotrauma%22%5BJournal%5D)">Robotic Rehabilitator of the Rodent Upper Extremity: A System and Method for Assessing and Training Forelimb Force Production after Neurological Injury.</a> J Neurotrauma. 33 (5), 460-467 (2016).</li>
<li>Hays, S. A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((The+bradykinesia+assessment+task%3A+an+automated+method+to+measure+forelimb+speed+in+rodents%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22J+Neurosci+Meth%22%5BJournal%5D)">The bradykinesia assessment task: an automated method to measure forelimb speed in rodents.</a> J Neurosci Meth. 214 (1), 52-61 (2013).</li>
<li>Meyers, E., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((The+supination+assessment+task%3A+an+automated+method+for+quantifying+forelimb+rotational+function+in+rats%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22J+Neurosci+Meth%22%5BJournal%5D)">The supination assessment task: an automated method for quantifying forelimb rotational function in rats.</a> J Neurosci Meth. 266, 11-20 (2016).</li>
<li>Lambercy, O., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Sub-processes+of+motor+learning+revealed+by+a+robotic+manipulandum+for+rodents%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Behav+Brain+Res%22%5BJournal%5D)">Sub-processes of motor learning revealed by a robotic manipulandum for rodents.</a> Behav Brain Res. 278, 569-576 (2015).</li>
<li>Vigaru, B. C., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((A+robotic+platform+to+assess%2C+guide+and+perturb+rat+forelimb+movements%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22IEEE+Trans.+Neural+Syst.+Rehabil.+Eng%22%5BJournal%5D)">A robotic platform to assess, guide and perturb rat forelimb movements.</a> IEEE Trans. Neural Syst. Rehabil. Eng. 21 (5), 796-805 (2013).</li>
<li>Klein, A., Sacrey, L. -A. R., Whishaw, I. Q., Dunnett, S. B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((The+use+of+rodent+skilled+reaching+as+a+translational+model+for+investigating+brain+damage+and+disease%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Neurosci+Biobehav+Rev%22%5BJournal%5D)">The use of rodent skilled reaching as a translational model for investigating brain damage and disease.</a> Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 36 (3), 1030-1042 (2012).</li>
<li>Gharbawie, O. A., Whishaw, I. Q. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Parallel+stages+of+learning+and+recovery+of+skilled+reaching+after+motor+cortex+stroke%3A+%26%2334%3BOppositions%26%2334%3B+organize+normal+and+compensatory+movements%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Behav+Brain+Res%22%5BJournal%5D)">Parallel stages of learning and recovery of skilled reaching after motor cortex stroke: &#34;Oppositions&#34; organize normal and compensatory movements.</a> Behav Brain Res. 175 (2), 249-262 (2006).</li>
<li>Palmér, T., Tamtè, M., Halje, P., Enqvist, O., Petersson, P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((A+system+for+automated+tracking+of+motor+components+in+neurophysiological+research%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22J+Neurosci+Meth%22%5BJournal%5D)">A system for automated tracking of motor components in neurophysiological research.</a> J Neurosci Meth. 205 (2), 334-344 (2012).</li>
<li>Alaverdashvili, M., Whishaw, I. Q. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((A+behavioral+method+for+identifying+recovery+and+compensation%3A+Hand+use+in+a+preclinical+stroke+model+using+the+single+pellet+reaching+task%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Neurosci+Biobehav+Rev%22%5BJournal%5D)">A behavioral method for identifying recovery and compensation: Hand use in a preclinical stroke model using the single pellet reaching task.</a> Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 37 (5), 950-967 (2013).</li>
<li>Alaverdashvili, M., Whishaw, I. Q. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Compensation+aids+skilled+reaching+in+aging+and+in+recovery+from+forelimb+motor+cortex+stroke+in+the+rat%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Neurosci%22%5BJournal%5D)">Compensation aids skilled reaching in aging and in recovery from forelimb motor cortex stroke in the rat.</a> Neurosci. 167 (1), 21-30 (2010).</li>
<li>Molina-Luna, K., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Dopamine+in+motor+cortex+is+necessary+for+skill+learning+and+synaptic+plasticity%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22PloS+one%22%5BJournal%5D)">Dopamine in motor cortex is necessary for skill learning and synaptic plasticity.</a> PloS one. 4 (9), (2009).</li>
<li>VandenBerg, P. M., Hogg, T. M., Kleim, J. A., Whishaw, I. Q. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Long-Evans+rats+have+a+larger+cortical+topographic+representation+of+movement+than+Fischer-344+rats%3A+A+microstimulation+study+of+motor+cortex+in+na%C4%B1%CC%88ve+and+skilled+reaching-trained+rats%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Brain+Res+Bull%22%5BJournal%5D)">Long-Evans rats have a larger cortical topographic representation of movement than Fischer-344 rats: A microstimulation study of motor cortex in naı̈ve and skilled reaching-trained rats.</a> Brain Res Bull. 59 (3), 197-203 (2002).</li>
<li>Whishaw, I. Q., Gorny, B., Foroud, A., Kleim, J. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Long-Evans+and+Sprague-Dawley+rats+have+similar+skilled+reaching+success+and+limb+representations+in+motor+cortex+but+different+movements%3A+some+cautionary+insights+into+the+selection+of+rat+strains+for+neurobiological+motor+research%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Behav+Brain+Res%22%5BJournal%5D)">Long-Evans and Sprague-Dawley rats have similar skilled reaching success and limb representations in motor cortex but different movements: some cautionary insights into the selection of rat strains for neurobiological motor research.</a> Behav Brain Res. 145 (1-2), 221-232 (2003).</li>
<li>Harms, K. J., Rioult-Pedotti, M. S., Carter, D. R., Dunaevsky, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Transient+Spine+Expansion+and+Learning-Induced+Plasticity+in+Layer+1+Primary+Motor+Cortex%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22J+Neurosci%22%5BJournal%5D)">Transient Spine Expansion and Learning-Induced Plasticity in Layer 1 Primary Motor Cortex.</a> J Neurosci. 28 (22), 5686-5690 (2008).</li>
<li>Metz, G. A., Whishaw, I. Q. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Skilled+reaching+an+action+pattern%3A+stability+in+rat+%28Rattus+norvegicus%29+grasping+movements+as+a+function+of+changing+food+pellet+size%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Behav+Brain+Res%22%5BJournal%5D)">Skilled reaching an action pattern: stability in rat (Rattus norvegicus) grasping movements as a function of changing food pellet size.</a> Behav Brain Res. 116 (2), 111-122 (2000).</li>
</ol>

The authors have nothing to disclose

Skilled reaching tasks are commonly used to study motor skill acquisition as well as impairment of motor function under pathological conditions6. Reliable and unambiguous analysis of reaching behavior is essential for the study of cellular mechanisms underlying motor skill acquisition, as well as neurophysiological processes involved in loss and subsequent recovery of function in animal models of neurological disease. The results presented here show how spatial and temporal aspects of the pulling ...

Motor tasks are widely used to assess behavioral and neural changes related to motor learning or to alterations in motor function in neurological or pharmacological animal models. Fine motor function can be difficult to quantify in rodents, however. Tasks requiring manual dexterity, such as manipulation of cereal1, pasta2, or sunflower seeds3 are sensitive and do not require extensive training of the animal. Their main drawback is that these tasks yield mostly qualitative results and can be difficult to score unambiguously.
Skilled reaching tasks, such as variations of the single pellet reaching task are more straightforward to quantify4,5. However, kinematic factors that underlie successful execution of these tasks can only be inferred to a limited extent and require labor-intensive frame-by-frame video analysis.
Robotic devices have gained popularity as means of quantifying aspects of forelimb function and motor skill. Several automated reaching tasks are available. The majority focus on a single aspect of a forelimb movement, such as pulling of a handle along a linear guide6,7, simple distal limb movements8, or pronation and supination of the paw9. While these devices show promise for the analysis of motor function in, they only reflect the complex motor actions executed during single pellet reaching to a limited extend.
Here, we demonstrate the use of a three-degree-of-freedom robotic device, ETH Pattus, developed for training and assessment of various motor tasks in rats10,11. It records planar and rotational movement of rat forelimb movements in reach, grasp, and pulling tasks carried out in the horizontal plane. Rats interact with the robot via a 6 mm-diameter spherical handle that can be reached through a window in the testing cage (width: 15 cm, length: 40 cm, height: 45 cm) and moved in the horizontal plane (pushing and pulling movements) and rotated (pronation-supination movements). Thus, it enables the rat to carry out movements that approximate those executed during conventional single pellet reaching tasks. The window is 10 mm wide and located 50 mm above the cage floor. The handle is located 55 mm above the floor. A sliding door blocks access to the handle between reaching trials and opens when the robot reaches its start position and closes after a trial is completed. After a correctly executed movement, rats receive a food reward on the opposite side of the testing cage.
The robot is controlled via software and records output from 3 rotary encoders at 1000 Hz, resulting in information about the position of the handle in the horizontal plane, as well as its rotation angle (for details, see reference11). The conditions required for successful task execution are defined in the software prior to each training session (e.g. minimum required pulling distance and maximum deviation from midline in a reach-and-pull task). An initial standardized reference position of the handle is recorded with a fixed holder at the start of each training session. This reference is used for all trials within a session, assuring a constant start position of the handle for each trial. Constant positioning of the handle relative to the cage window is assured by alignment of marks on the cage and robot (Figure 1).
Video recordings of the reaching movements are recorded using a small high speed camera (120 frames/s, 640 x 480 resolution). A small display in the camera&#39;s view shows the rat&#39;s identification number, training session, trial number and trial result (success or failed). These videos are used to verify recorded results and to assess the effects of reaching movements that precede the touching, pulling or rotation of the handle.
Here, we demonstrate the use of this robotic platform in variations of a reach-and-pull task. This task can be trained within a period of time that is comparable to other skilled reaching paradigms and yields reproducible results. We describe a typical training protocol, as well as some of the main output parameters. Moreover, we show how minor changes in the used training protocol can result in altered time courses of behavioral outcomes that may represent independent subprocesses within the motor skill learning process.

<table><tbody><tr><td>ETH Pattus</td><td></td><td></td><td>ETH Pattus was made by the Rehabilitation Engineering Laboratory of Prof. Gassert at ETH Zurich.&amp;nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Training cage&amp;nbsp;</td><td></td><td></td><td>The plexiglass training cage was made in-house.&amp;nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Pellet dispenser</td><td>Campden Instruments</td><td>80209</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>45-mg dustless precision pellets</td><td>Bio-Serv</td><td>F0021-J</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>GoPro Hero 3+ Silver Edition&amp;nbsp;</td><td>digitec.ch</td><td>284528</td><td>Small highspeed camera&amp;nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Small display</td><td>Adafruit Industries</td><td>#50, #661</td><td>128 x 32 SPI OLED display controlled via an Arduino Uno microcontroller and Labview software</td></tr><tr><td>LabVIEW 2012</td><td>National Instruments</td><td>776678-3513</td><td>ETH Pattus is compatible with more recent Labview versions.&amp;nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Matlab 2014b</td><td>The Mathworks</td><td>MLALL</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

investigating motor skill learning processes with a robotic manipulandum

Investigating Motor Skill Learning Processes with a Robotic Manipulandum

Skilled reaching tasks are commonly used in studies of motor skill learning and motor function under healthy and pathological conditions, but can be time-intensive and ambiguous to quantify beyond simple success rates. Here, we describe the training procedure for reach-and-pull tasks with ETH Pattus, a robotic platform for automated forelimb reaching training that records pulling and hand rotation movements in rats. Kinematic quantification of the performed pulling attempts reveals the presence of distinct temporal profiles of movement parameters such as pulling velocity, spatial variability of the pulling trajectory, deviation from midline, as well as pulling success. We show how minor adjustments in the training paradigm result in alterations in these parameters, revealing their relation to task difficulty, general motor function or skilled task execution. Combined with electrophysiological, pharmacological and optogenetic techniques, this paradigm can be used to explore the mechanisms underlying motor learning and memory formation, as well as loss and recovery of function (e.g. after stroke).

Here, we show 3 variations of a reach-and pull task using male Long-Evans rats (10-12 weeks old). In the free-pull (FP) group (N = 6), rats were trained to pull the robot's handle for a 22 day period without lateral restrictions. Animals in the straight-pull 1 (SP1) group (N = 12) were trained to pull the handle without deviating more than 2 mm from midline. These animals transitioned directly from reward-touch (step 2.3) to straight-pull training (step 2.5). For both FP and SP1 animals, ...

A paradigm is presented for training and analysis of an automated skilled reaching task in rats. Analysis of pulling attempts reveals distinct subprocesses of motor learning.

Skilled reaching tasks are commonly used in studies of motor skill learning and motor function under healthy and pathological conditions, but can be ...

investigating-motor-skill-learning-processes-with-robotic

Research

JoVE Journal

Behavior

Persistent practice improves the precision of coordinated movements. Here we introduce a single-pellet reaching task, which is designed to assess the learning and memory of forelimb skill in...

Study Motor Skill Learning by Single-pellet Reaching Tasks in Mice

It is unclear how top-down signals from the ventral visual stream affect movement. We developed a paradigm to test motor behavior towards a target on a 3D depth inversion illusion. Significant differences are reported in both deliberate, goal-directed movements and automatic actions under illusory and veridical viewing conditions.

Methods to Explore the Influence of Top-down Visual Processes on Motor Behavior

A paradigm is presented to analyze the acquisition of a high-precision skilled forelimb reaching task in rats.

Acquisition of a High-precision Skilled Forelimb Reaching Task in Rats

We describe a novel virtual-reality based setup which exploits voluntary control of one hand to improve motor-skill performance in the other (non-trained) hand. This is achieved by providing real-time movement-based sensory feedback as if the non-trained hand is moving. This new approach may be used to enhance rehabilitation of patients with unilateral hemiparesis.

Using Virtual Reality to Transfer Motor Skill Knowledge from One Hand to Another

We introduce the foot-stepping serial reaction time (SRT) task. This modified SRT task, complementing the classic SRT task that involves only finger-pressing movement, better approximates daily sequenced activities and allows researchers to study the dynamic processes underlying discrete response measures and disentangle the explicit process operating in implicit sequence learning.

The "Motor" in Implicit Motor Sequence Learning: A Foot-stepping Serial Reaction Time Task

This paper introduces the design and implementation of a bespoke robotic manipulator for extra-corporeal ultrasound examination. The system has five degrees of freedom with lightweight joints made by 3D printing and a mechanical clutch for safety management.

Design and Implementation of a Bespoke Robotic Manipulator for Extra-corporeal Ultrasound

Using a robotic isokinetic device with electromyography (EMG) measurements, this protocol illustrates that isokinetic motion itself can improve inter-rater reliability for the angle of catch measurements in stroke patients with mild elbow flexor spasticity.

Isokinetic Robotic Device to Improve Test-Retest and Inter-Rater Reliability for Stretch Reflex Measurements in Stroke Patients with Spasticity

This study reports the development of a novel robot-assisted task-oriented program for hand rehabilitation. The developmental process consists of experiments using both healthy subjects and subjects who have had a stroke and suffered from subsequent motor control dysfunction.

Development of a Novel Task-oriented Rehabilitation Program using a Bimanual Exoskeleton Robotic Hand

The present protocol describes how to use wireless optogenetics combined with high-speed videography in a single pellet reach-to-grasp task to characterize the neural circuits involved in the performance of skilled motor behavior in freely moving mice.

In Vivo Wireless Optogenetic Control of Skilled Motor Behavior

The current study describes a fine motor behavior test for examining motor deficits in rodent models, including the TgF344-AD rat, using machine learning.

A Fine Motor Task to Study Joint Kinematics in a Preclinical Model of Neurodegenerative Disease

Learn automated skilled reaching tasks in rats using a robotic manipulandum for motor skill learning research. This method enables objective kinematic analysis of motor function recovery after brain damage.

Investigating Motor Skill Learning Processes with a Robotic Manipulandum

Explore More Videos