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Pole Test Latency Scorer

Score T-turn and total descent latency with cutoff clamping, animal means, group SEM, and CSV export for Parkinsonian motor batteries.

T-turnT-totalCSV Export

Pole test trial table

Enter time to turn head-down and total descent time for each trial. Values at or above cutoff are clamped for animal means.

AnimalGroupTrial 1Trial 2Trial 3Trial 4Trial 5Cutoff
none
clamped

Animal summary

AnimalGroupMean T-turn (s)Mean T-total (s)
M1vehicle2.268.84
M26OHDA21.0446.60

Group mean T-turn

Group mean T-total

  • Compute T-turn and T-total from repeated pole test trials
  • Apply a prespecified cutoff before animal means are calculated
  • Summarize lesion and control groups with mean plus SEM
  • Export animal-level clamped trial data for Prism, R, or Python
  • Pair pole results with rotarod, beam walk, cylinder, and wire hang endpoints

Don't use for

  • Rotarod latency-to-fall learning curves
  • Open-field distance or velocity tracking
  • Grip strength pull-force assays

Resources

  • Head-up placement used for every scored trial
  • Pole diameter, height, and texture documented
  • Pre-training trials completed before scoring
  • Cutoff selected before data collection
  • Observer blinded to group when possible
  • Falls, jumps, and failed turns coded consistently

What Is the Pole Test?

The pole test is a vertical descent assay used to quantify motor slowing and coordination deficits in rodents. The animal is placed head-up near the top of a vertical pole, then the observer records the time to turn head-down and the total time to descend.

The test is especially common in Parkinsonian models such as 6-OHDA and MPTP, where bradykinesia and impaired movement initiation can produce prolonged T-turn and T-total values.

Metrics and Math

This scorer clamps each T-turn and T-total value at the selected cutoff. It then computes each animal mean T-turn and mean T-total from non-empty trials. Group summaries are calculated from animal means and reported as mean plus SEM.

CSV export includes both clamped trial values and animal-level means so downstream analysis can audit cutoff handling.

Best Practices

Use the same pole diameter, surface texture, height, start position, and cutoff across groups. Pre-train animals before scored trials, randomize testing order, and blind observers to treatment when manual scoring is used.

Record failed turns, passive sliding, jumping, and falls as protocol-defined events before analysis begins.

Frequently Asked Questions

Next Steps

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Vertical pole setup for bradykinesia and descent latency testing

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