Some deficits in our scoring system are not present at the late phase. To make scoring the stroke animals easy, I proposed modifying it and naming it the SPAN neurological scoring system (28 points).
The details to score the stroke animals
General Status (0-6)
The animal is placed in a new cage with bedding and watched for 5 minutes.
Spontaneous activity (0-2)
0 point: Brisk, can stand up by holding walls; 1 point: Walks but can’t stand up by holding walls; and 2 points: Trends to rest
Body symmetry (0-2)
0 point: Posture shift to both sides; 1 point: Posture shifts to one side continuously; and 2 points: Posture shifts to one side, but hardly walks
The animal is placed on the table surface and watched.
Gait (0-2)
0 point: Walk freely, no abnormality; 1 point: Supports left extremities by right; and 2 points: Clear limping or body swinging
Motor Functions (0-12)
The animal is on the table. The tail is held up, and the front legs are allowed to touch the table surface.
Front limb symmetry (0-2)
0 point: Stretches both arms symmetrically; 1 point: Asymmetry, difference less than 45 degrees; and 2 points: Asymmetry, difference more than 45 degrees
The animal is placed on the table and allowed to walk freely.
Circling / bench top (0-2)
0 point: Turns to both sides equally; 1 point: Tendency to turn to one side, can walk straight; and 2 points: Circles to one side
The animal is on the table. The tail is held up, and only the front limbs are allowed to walk on the table surface.
Circling / holding tail (0-2)
0 point: Walks in both directions; 1 point: Tendency to circle to one side, occasionally turns to the other side; and 2 points: Circles to one side
The animal is on the table. The hind limbs are left outside the table.
Hind limb placement (0-2)
0 point: Immediately place on the table; 1 point: Slowly place on the table; and 2 points: Fail to place on the table
The animal is placed on the screen, which is then turned almost vertically.
Screen climb (0-2)
0 point: Completes climbing, shifts to both sides; 1 point: Climbs and shifts to one side; and 2 points: Does not climb
The animal is placed in the middle of the beam and allowed to walk.
Beam walking (0-2)
0 point: Reaches up to the end wall; 1 point: Can walk on the beam but does not reach up to the end wall; and 2 points: Can’t walk on the beam
Sensory functions (0-10)
The animal is placed on the table and allowed to move freely. Use the needle to touch when the animal is not walking.
Front limb touch (0-2)
0 point: Brisk on both sides; 1 point: Slow left and brisk right; and 2 points: Absent left and some responses right
Hind limb touch (0-2)
0 point: Brisk on both sides; 1 point: Slow left and brisk right; and 2 points: Absent left and some responses right
Animal is placed inside the cage. Use the needle to touch the truck, vibrissae, and face.
Trunk touch (0-2)
0 point: Brisk bilaterally; 1 point: Slow left and brisk right; and 2 points: Absent left and some responses right
Vibrissae touch (0-2)
0 point: Brisk bilaterally; 1 point: Slow left and brisk right; and 2 points: Absent left and some responses right
Face touch (0-2)
0 point: Brisk on both sides; 1 point: Slow left and brisk right; and 2 points: Absent left and some responses right