Evolution of motor activity tests into a screening reality.
Measures of activity have changed in ways that their utility in screening for neurotoxicity has vastly improved. New computer pattern recognition systems now provide rapid, objective tools for identifying animal behavior. Advances in data analysis procedures have replaced the percent change in overall activity level with measures of initiations, total time and temporal structure for multiple behaviors and sequences. These advances can distinguish hyperactivities induced by different mechanisms and rank their neurotoxic potential, a feat not possible with photocell devices generally used in laboratories today. With the recent technological improvements, it is possible that a measure of activity will become one of the best predictors of malfunction in the central nervous system.
Mullenix
P J
PJ
Department of Toxicology, Forsyth Research Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
D000661:Amphetamine / Q000633:toxicity; D000818:Animals; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D010672:Phenytoin / Q000633:toxicity
D010672:Phenytoin; D000661:Amphetamine