USES : Locomotor activity , motor performance , sensori-motor coordination ...
 
rats   
 
I°) Apparatus :

This apparatus has a metallic structure covered by PVC. There are 4 areas delimited by some walls in which some sensors in the floor permit to detect falls. A push button, in front of the 4 areas permits to start a timer which will be stopped when a fall is detected. The turning bar is driven by a motoreducer, maximum speed: 50 tours/minute. The speed which can be regulated as you want, is displayed on a counter.

These apparatus are connected to an electronic interface, which permits the communication with the computer.
 
II°)Software: 
 
This apparatus can be linked to a computer which facilitate and optimise the Rota-rod use. (Time between the Rota-rod start and a fall are automatically recorded. During the same a led can be lighted in each box...)
* Management by successive periods ;
* Each box is independent ;
* Automatic times' storage in a file;
 
* Moreover, the system is sold with a program which permits to manage recorded experiments. It permits notably to combine your files so as to compare results and to gain disk space. The output variables' presentations and their kinetics can be visualised either with whatever software which accepts the text format (Notepad, Wordpad, Word...) or with EXCEL.