title: Importance of behavioral manipulations and measures in rat models of brain damage and brain repair.
abstract: The relevance of careful behavioral measures and manipulations in animal research on neural plasticity and brain damage has become increasingly clear. Recent research in adult rats indicates that an understanding of neural restructuring after brain damage requires an understanding of how it is influenced by postinjury behavioral experiences. Other research indicates that optimizing pharmacological and other treatments for brain damage may require their combination with rehabilitative training. Assessing the efficacy of a treatment approach in animal models requires the use of sensitive behavioral measures of functional outcome. In research on restorative plasticity after brain damage, procedures for handling and housing rats should promote the quality of behavioral measures and manipulations.
authors.affiliation: The Institute for Neuroscience Research and the Psychology Department, The University of Texas at Austin, USA.
authors.forename: Theresa A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Scott D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Bury
authors.forename: DeAnna L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Adkins-Muir
authors.forename: Linslee M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Luke
authors.forename: Rachel P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Allred
authors.forename: Jon T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Sakata
mesh_terms: D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000379:methods; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005552:Forelimb / Q000503:physiopathology; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans; D020521:Stroke / Q000628:therapy*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation