Forelimb Use Asymmetry Analysis of Vertical Exploratory Activity After Intracerebral Hemorrhage in Rats and Mice

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) leads to lasting sensorimotor deficits in humans. The test of forelimb use asymmetry (FUA) has been repeatedly shown to be effective for the longitudinal evaluation of sensorimotor function in rat and mouse models of ICH. This test evaluates the use of forelimbs during weight shifting for vertical exploration in a cylindrical enclosure, and can monitor the recovery of sensorimotor function without the effect of learning after repeated testing. Relevant descriptions for performing these assessments are presented in this chapter.