<p>THE INSTITUTIONAL ANIMAL CARE AND USE COMMITTEE (IACUC) IACUC / LARC STANDARD PROCEDURES Balance Beam Description of procedure:</p><p>In order to assess motor coordination mice are trained to traverse a series of graded beams and ares evaluated on the ability to maintain balance. </p><p>Supplies:  Narrow beam  Padding Procedure Steps: 1. Padding is positioned under the narrow beam in the event that the animal falls from the beam. 2. An animal is placed on a graded beam. The ability to maintain balance and/or traverse the beam in order to reach an enclosed safety platform is evaluated. A bright light illuminates the beginning of the beam to further encourage the mouse to walk across the beam toward the enclosed box at the other side. Evaluations are based on latency to cross the beam and the number of times the hind feet slip off the beam. </p><p>Literature search words required: Literature search was performed for refinement of this Standard Procedure on 9/29/2010</p><p>Key Words Search Site Years Covered behavior, transgenic mice, knockout mice, PubMed 1975 - present neurodegeneration, water maze, openfield, Hargreave's, vonFrey, CatWalk, rotarod, plasticity behavior, transgenic mice, knockout mice, University of 2009-2010 neurodegeneration, water maze, open field, California Center Hargreave's, von Frey, CatWalk, Rotarod, for Animal plasticity, neurobehavioral Alternatives</p><p>Agents: This procedure does not require any agents. </p><p>Adverse effects: No adverse effects are anticipated.</p><p>Updated 11/14/10</p>