NIH Grant NS038079 (MSB &amp; JCB), NIH Grant AG032518 (MSB &amp; JCB), New York State CoRE 19772 (MSB &amp; JCB), NIH NS069537 (ARF) and NIH NS053059 (ARF).

<ol>
	<li>Anderson, K. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Targeting+recovery:+priorities+of+the+spinal+cord-injured+population.">Targeting recovery: priorities of the spinal cord-injured population.</a> J Neurotrauma. 21 (10), 1371-1383 (2004).</li><li>Anderson, K. D., Sharp, K. G., Steward, O. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Bilateral+cervical+contusion+spinal+cord+injury+in+rats.">Bilateral cervical contusion spinal cord injury in rats.</a> Exp. Neurol. 220 (1), 9-22 (2009).</li><li>Ballermann, M., Metz, G. A., McKenna, J. E., Klassen, F., Whishaw, Q. I. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+pasta+matrix+reaching+task:+a+simple+test+for+measuring+skilled+reaching+distance,+direction,+and+dexterity+in+rats.">The pasta matrix reaching task: a simple test for measuring skilled reaching distance, direction, and dexterity in rats.</a> J Neurosci Methods. 106, 39-45 (2001).</li><li>Bertelli, J. A., Mira, J. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Behavioral+evaluating+methods+in+the+objective+clinical+assessment+of+motor+function+after+experimental+brachial+plexus+reconstruction+in+the+rat.">Behavioral evaluating methods in the objective clinical assessment of motor function after experimental brachial plexus reconstruction in the rat.</a> J Neurosci Methods. 46, (1993).</li><li>Gensel, J. C., Tovar, C. A., Hamers, F. P., Deibert, R. J., Beattie, M. S., Bresnahan, J. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Behavioral+and+histological+characterization+of+unilateral+cervical+spinal+cord+contusion+injury+in+rats.">Behavioral and histological characterization of unilateral cervical spinal cord contusion injury in rats.</a> J Neurotrauma. 23, 36-54 (2006).</li><li>Girgis, J., Merrett, D., Kirkland, S., Metz, G. A., Verge, V., Fouad, K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Reaching+training+in+rats+with+spinal+cord+injury+promotes+plasticity+and+task+specific+recovery.">Reaching training in rats with spinal cord injury promotes plasticity and task specific recovery.</a> Brain. 130 (PT 11), 2993-3003 (2007).</li><li>Metz, G. A., Whishaw, I. Q. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Skilled+reaching+an+action+pattern:+stability+in+rat+(Rattus+norvegicus)+grasping+movements+as+a+function+of+changing+food+pellet+size.">Skilled reaching an action pattern: stability in rat (Rattus norvegicus) grasping movements as a function of changing food pellet size.</a> Behav Brain Res. 116 (2), 111-122 (2000).</li><li>Montoya, C. P., Campbell-Hope, L. J., Pemberton, K. D., Dunnett, S. B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+"staircase+test":+a+measure+of+independent+forelimb+reaching+and+grasping+abilities+in+rats.">The "staircase test": a measure of independent forelimb reaching and grasping abilities in rats.</a> J Neurosci Methods. 36 (2-3), 219-228 (1991).</li><li>Pearse, D. D., Lo, T. P. J. r., Cho, K. S., Lynch, M. P., Garg, M. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Histopathological+and+behavioral+characterization+of+a+novel+cervical+spinal+cord+displacement+contusion+injury+in+the+rat.">Histopathological and behavioral characterization of a novel cervical spinal cord displacement contusion injury in the rat.</a> J Neurotrauma. 22 (6), 680-702 (2005).</li><li>Whishaw, I. Q., Pellis, S. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+structure+of+skilled+forelimb+reaching+in+the+rat:+a+proximally+driven+movement+with+a+single+distal+rotatory+component.">The structure of skilled forelimb reaching in the rat: a proximally driven movement with a single distal rotatory component.</a> Behav. Brain Res. 41 (1), 49-59 (1990).</li></ol>

No conflicts of interest declared.

The Irvine, Beatties and Bresnahan forelimb scale (IBB) is a 10-point ordinal scale of forelimb recovery progression. The IBB analyzes many features of both proximal and distal forelimb use during the consumption of two whole cereal pieces set for the task, a spherical- and a doughnut-shaped cereal. Videos of animals eating the cereals are evaluated for the most common forelimb behaviors (including joint position, object support, digit movement and grasping technique) used for both shapes and then an IBB score is allocated based on a combination of these behaviors selected to represent the greatest amount of forelimb recovery. Assessments should only be made with cereals that are of a consistent size and shape; thus, animals should not be scored when eating broken pieces of cereal. Animals must fulfil all of the behaviours that describe each point or the animal is scored the closest deficit point.
The IBB was created for assessment of forelimb recovery following experimentally induced cervical SCI. Initial studies in our lab found that, as with other behavioral assays, recovery assessed using the IBB score is sensitive to injury severity. The use of the IBB may not be limited to cervical SCI but may also be suitable for other forms of central and peripheral nerve injury that affect proper forelimb function.

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a novel method for assessing proximal and distal forelimb function in the rat: the irvine, beatties and bresnahan (ibb) forelimb scale

Several experimental models of cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) have been developed recently to assess the consequences of damage to this level of the spinal cord (Pearse et al., 2005, Gensel et al., 2006, Anderson et al., 2009), as the majority of human SCI occur here (Young, 2010; www.sci-info-pages.com). Behavioral deficits include loss of forelimb function due to damage to the white matter affecting both descending motor and ascending sensory systems, and to the gray matter containing the segmental circuitry for processing sensory input and motor output for the forelimb. Additionally, a key priority for human patients with cervical SCI is restoration of hand/arm function (Anderson, 2004). Thus, outcome measures that assess both proximal and distal forelimb function are needed. Although there are several behavioral assays that are sensitive to different aspects of forelimb recovery in experimental models of cervical SCI (Girgis et al., 2007, Gensel et al., 2006, Ballerman et al., 2001, Metz and Whishaw, 2000, Bertelli and Mira, 1993, Montoya et al., 1991, Whishaw and Pellis, 1990), few techniques provide detailed information on the recovery of fine motor control and digit movement.
The current measurement technique, the Irvine, Beatties and Bresnahan forelimb scale (IBB), can detect recovery of both proximal and distal forelimb function including digit movements during a naturally occurring behavior that does not require extensive training or deprivation to enhance motivation. The IBB was generated by observing recovery after a unilateral C6 SCI, and involves video recording of animals eating two differently shaped cereals (spherical and doughnut) of a consistent size. These videos were then used to assess features of forelimb use, such as joint position, object support, digit movement and grasping technique.
The IBB, like other forelimb behavioral tasks, shows a consistent pattern of recovery that is sensitive to injury severity. Furthermore, the IBB scale could be used to assess recovery following other types of injury that impact normal forelimb function.

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about A Novel Method for Assessing Proximal and Distal Forelimb Function in the Rat: the Irvine, Beatties and Bresnahan IBB Forelimb Scale at JoVE.com

A Novel Method for Assessing Proximal and Distal Forelimb Function in the Rat: the Irvine, Beatties and Bresnahan IBB Forelimb Scale

Here we will describe a rodent behavioral assay that can detect recovery of both proximal and distal forelimb function including digit movements during a naturally occurring behavior that does not require extensive training or deprivation to enhance motivation.

A Novel Method for Assessing Proximal and Distal Forelimb Function in the Rat: the Irvine, Beatties and Bresnahan (IBB) Forelimb Scale

Several experimental models of cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) have been developed recently to assess the consequences of damage to this level of the ...

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19.6K Views.  University of California, San Francisco. Here we will describe a rodent behavioral assay that can detect recovery of both proximal and distal forelimb function including digit movements during a naturally occurring behavior that does not require extensive training or deprivation to enhance motivation. 