Primary Assay — Mouse
Rotarod
Mus musculus
Accelerating rod tests motor coordination and motor learning. Mouse must walk on a rotating rod; latency to fall is the primary measure. Used to assess cerebellar function, drug effects, and neurodegeneration.

Quantitative Output
Measured Parameters
Every parameter is automatically tracked frame-by-frame in the ConductVision pipeline for Mus musculus.
| Parameter | Unit | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Latency to fall | s | Time on the rod before falling |
| RPM at fall | rpm | Rod speed when mouse falls |
| Learning rate | slope | Improvement across consecutive trials/days |
| Maximum RPM tolerated | rpm | Highest sustained speed |
References
Citations for Rotarod
- Dunham NW, Miya TS. (1957). A note on a simple apparatus for detecting neurological deficit in rats and mice. J Am Pharm Assoc Am Pharm Assoc, 46(3), 208-209. PMID: 13502156
- Shiotsuki H, et al. (2010). A rotarod test for evaluation of motor skill learning. J Neurosci Methods, 189(2), 180-185. PMID: 20359499
Compatible Equipment
Hardware for Mouse Research
Open Field Maze (various sizes)
OFT locomotion and anxiety
Elevated Plus Maze
Anxiety-like behavior
Morris Water Maze
Spatial learning and memory
Fear Conditioning Chamber
Contextual and cued FC
Rotarod (accelerating)
Motor coordination
Three-Chamber Social Interaction
Sociability testing
Y-Maze
Spontaneous alternation
Barnes Maze
Spatial learning (dry, less stressful)
Light-Dark Box
Anxiety-like behavior
Forced Swim Test Cylinder
Depressive-like behavior
Tail Suspension Apparatus
Depressive-like behavior
Grip Strength Meter
Neuromuscular function
Related Assays
Other Mouse Primary Assays

02
Open Field Test
Mus musculus
The most widely used behavioral assay in rodent neuroscience. Mice are placed in an open arena and locomotor activity, a…

02
Elevated Plus Maze (EPM)
Mus musculus
Four-arm maze elevated 40-70 cm with two open and two closed (walled) arms. Time in open arms reflects reduced anxiety-l…

02
Morris Water Maze
Mus musculus
Circular pool of opaque water with hidden escape platform. Mice learn the platform location using spatial cues. The most…
Run Rotarod on ConductVision
Our team will configure the protocol, camera rig, and analysis pipeline for your mouse facility.