Leemburg Susan, Iijima Maiko, Lambercy Olivier, Nallet-Khosrofian Lauriane, Gassert Roger, Luft Andreas
Division of Vascular Neurology and Rehabilitation, Department of Neurology, University Hospital Zurich;
Division of Vascular Neurology and Rehabilitation, Department of Neurology, University Hospital Zurich.
J Vis Exp. 2017 Feb 12(120):54970. doi: 10.3791/54970.
Skilled reaching tasks are commonly used in studies of motor skill learning and motor function under healthy and pathological conditions, but can be time-intensive and ambiguous to quantify beyond simple success rates. Here, we describe the training procedure for reach-and-pull tasks with ETH Pattus, a robotic platform for automated forelimb reaching training that records pulling and hand rotation movements in rats. Kinematic quantification of the performed pulling attempts reveals the presence of distinct temporal profiles of movement parameters such as pulling velocity, spatial variability of the pulling trajectory, deviation from midline, as well as pulling success. We show how minor adjustments in the training paradigm result in alterations in these parameters, revealing their relation to task difficulty, general motor function or skilled task execution. Combined with electrophysiological, pharmacological and optogenetic techniques, this paradigm can be used to explore the mechanisms underlying motor learning and memory formation, as well as loss and recovery of function (e.g. after stroke).
在健康和病理条件下，熟练的伸手任务常用于运动技能学习和运动功能研究，但可能耗时较长，且除了简单的成功率外，难以进行量化。在此，我们描述了使用ETH Pattus进行拉拽任务的训练程序，ETH Pattus是一个用于大鼠前肢自动伸展训练的机器人平台，可记录大鼠的拉拽和手部旋转动作。对所执行的拉拽尝试进行运动学量化，揭示了运动参数存在不同的时间特征，如拉拽速度、拉拽轨迹的空间变异性、与中线的偏差以及拉拽成功率。我们展示了训练范式中的微小调整如何导致这些参数的变化，揭示了它们与任务难度、一般运动功能或熟练任务执行之间的关系。结合电生理、药理学和光遗传学技术，该范式可用于探索运动学习和记忆形成的潜在机制，以及功能丧失和恢复（如中风后）的机制。
