The Pawedness Trait Test (PaTRaT) is a behavioral assessment tool designed to measure the degree of paw preference in rodents and its connection to neural functions such as motor activity, cognition, impulsivity, and memory. The PaTRaT setup utilizes a preference-based approach, allowing the subject to freely use either paw to manipulate a food reward during the experiment. The tendency to favor the right or left paw is associated with asymmetry in monoamine levels and dopaminergic activity in the brain (Barnéoud, Moal, & Neveu, 1990).
MazeEngineers offers the PaTRaT in versions tailored for both mice and rats.
$1,790.00 – $1,890.00
Mouse Features |
Height of Cage: 26 cm |
Diameter of Cage: 12.0 cm |
Grid opening: 0.75 cm x 1.5 cm |
Receptacle Height: 2.5 cm |
Rat Features |
Height of Cage: 40 cm |
Diameter of Cage: 17.5 cm |
Grid opening: 1.1 cm x 2.2 cm |
Receptacle Height: 4 cm |
Compared to earlier assessments like the Collins and Lateral Paw Preference tests, the Pawedness Trait Test (PaTRaT) enhances subject motivation to engage in the task. While traditional tests focus solely on exclusive use of the left or right paw, PaTRaT not only measures this but also quantifies potential intermediate movements. The intermediate pawedness observed in rats using the PaTRaT provides results more akin to human handedness. The test evaluates the preferential use of the right or left paw through an advanced classification system.
The PaTRaT apparatus features a circular grid that separates the rodents from the food rewards. The mesh size is smaller than the reward, compelling the subject to use a variety of dexterous movements to retrieve the food. Other tools used for examining motor activity and coordination in rodents include the Skilled Forelimb Test, Stairway Test, Static Rods Test, and Grid Test.
The Pawedness Trait Test apparatus is composed of an open-top plexiglass box. At the center, a 40 cm long wire mesh cylinder is positioned to enclose the subjects, with a diameter of 17.5 cm. The grid holes in the mesh measure 1.1 cm by 2.2 cm. Attached to the outside base of the cylinder is a reward holder, measuring 4 cm in height and 2 cm in width. The entire setup is mounted on a supporting platform that measures 50 cm by 75 cm.
Clean all apparatus and equipment thoroughly before and after trials with 10% ethanol. Conduct the experiment in a controlled environment. An external tracking and recording systems such as the Noldus Ethovision XT can be used to record the subject’s behavior.
Begin by placing the subject inside the apparatus and confining it within the mesh cylinder. Position food rewards in the designated food reservoir. Allow the subject to acclimate to the apparatus and the reward by conducting two separate familiarization sessions, each lasting 10 minutes. Following this, proceed with one or two motivation training sessions, each 15 minutes long. During these sessions, place a single food reward near the mesh cylinder and permit the subject to retrieve it. Conduct 2 daily sessions with a minimum interval of 4 hours between them.
Position the trained test subject in the apparatus, confining it within the gridded cylinder. Place the food rewards in the reservoir attached to the base of the cylinder. Give the subject 10 minutes to retrieve 10 rewards from the holder through the grid into the cylinder. Observe and record the paw or paws the subject uses to manipulate each reward. Repeat this procedure for the other trained subjects.
Cunha et al. (2017) conducted a study to assess dexterity and paw preference in male Sprague-Dawley rats using the PaTRaT apparatus. The experiment consisted of four 10-minute sessions, where the rats retrieved food rewards placed outside the mesh cylinder. The researchers observed each subject for any handedness bias toward the right or left paw. Out of 24 rats evaluated across 40 trials, 11 consistently favored their left paw, while the remaining 13 preferred their right paw. This led to an almost equal distribution of right and left paw preference among the subjects.
The following observations can be made using the Pawedness Trait Test:
Pawedness in the Pawedness Trait Test is classified on a scale of +4 to -4 where the positive and the negative values reflect the preference of left or right paw respectively. The values on the scale are reflective of the increasing preference of the paw as shown below:
Rating | Interpretation |
0 | Absence of exclusive paw preference and final withdrawal with the mouth |
1 | Handling with both paws and final withdrawal with either left or right paw |
2 | Handling with one paw but retrieval with the other paw |
3 | Exclusive usage of preferred paw followed by withdrawal with the mouth or almost exclusive usage of the preferred paw |
4 | Exclusive usage of the preferred paw |
The Pawedness Trait Test is straightforward and easy to construct. The PaTRaT apparatus enhances subject motivation by enabling them to see, smell, and touch the rewards. In this setup, subjects are not restricted and can freely use either paw, allowing for an unbiased assessment of paw preference. The larger size of the reward relative to the mesh grid requires the subject to exhibit complex dexterity to retrieve it. The PaTRaT produces reliable and reproducible results.
The outcomes of the Pawedness Trait Test are heavily influenced by the training of the subjects. However, the test does not account for the effects of natural factors like starvation and stress on the animals. It is crucial to carefully monitor and maintain environmental conditions, such as humidity and light exposure, throughout the experiment. Any deviations in these conditions could potentially impact the subjects’ pawedness.
Barnéoud, P., Moal, M. A., & Neveu, P. J. (1990). Asymmetric distribution of brain monoamines in left- and right-handed mice. Brain Research, 520 (1-2), 317-321. doi:1016/00068993(90) 91721-R
Cunha, A. M., Esteves, M., Neves, S., Borges, S., Guimarães, M. R., Sousa, N., Leite-Almeida, H. (2017). Pawedness Trait Test (PaTRaT)—A new paradigm to evaluate paw preference and dexterity in rats. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 11(192), 1-9. doi: 10.3389/fnbeh.2017.00192
| Species | Mouse, Rat |
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