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T-turnFree in-browser calculator

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.

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Validated2026-04-30
CitableMethods and citation included

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Results update in place

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

When to use

  • 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

Do not use for

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

T-turn and T-total answer different questions

T-turn is often the more direct bradykinesia endpoint. T-total also reflects descent strategy, grip, and coordination.

Surface texture changes the assay

A smooth pole and a gauze-wrapped pole can produce different descent behavior. Treat apparatus configuration as a fixed protocol variable.

Cutoff trials should stay visible

A cutoff-limited animal can carry important biological signal. Flag those trials instead of hiding them in averaged values.

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
1

Method

For each animal, non-empty T-turn and T-total trial values are clamped at the selected cutoff before averaging. Group summaries are computed from animal means. SEM uses sample standard deviation divided by square root of n. All computation runs in the browser.

2

Validated

Last validated 2026-04-30. Calculations are designed for planning and documentation support; verify procurement decisions against manufacturer specifications or institutional SOPs.

3

How to cite

How to Cite

ConductScience Pole Test Latency Scorer (v1.0). ConductScience, Inc. 2026. Available at: https://conductscience.com/tools/pole-test-latency-scorer

This tool performs descriptive calculations from user-entered pole test latencies. It does not replace protocol-specific statistics, exclusion criteria, or animal welfare oversight.

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.

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