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Manns M, Basbasse YE, Freund N, Ocklenburg S. Paw preferences in mice and rats: Meta-analysis. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 127:593-606. [PMID: 34004244 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Revised: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Mice and rats are among the most common animal model species in both basic and clinical neuroscience. Despite their ubiquity as model species, many clinically relevant brain-behaviour relationships in rodents are not well understood. In particular, data on hemispheric asymmetries, an important organizational principle in the vertebrate brain, are conflicting as existing studies are often statistically underpowered due to small sample sizes. Paw preference is one of the most frequently investigated forms of hemispheric asymmetries on the behavioural level. Here, we used meta-analysis to statistically integrate findings on paw preferences in rats and mice. For both species, results indicate significant hemispheric asymmetries on the individual level. In mice, 81 % of animals showed a preference for either the left or the right paw, while 84 % of rats showed this preference. However, contrary to what has been reported in humans, population level asymmetries were not observed. These results are particularly significant as they point out that paying attention to potential individual hemispheric differences is important in both basic and clinical neuroscience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Manns
- Division of Experimental and Molecular Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Preventive Medicine, LWL University Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany.
| | - Yasmin El Basbasse
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Department Biopsychology, Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr University Bochum, Germany
| | - Nadja Freund
- Division of Experimental and Molecular Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Preventive Medicine, LWL University Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany
| | - Sebastian Ocklenburg
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Department Biopsychology, Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr University Bochum, Germany
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Cunha AM, Esteves M, das Neves SP, Borges S, Guimarães MR, Sousa N, Almeida A, Leite-Almeida H. Pawedness Trait Test (PaTRaT)-A New Paradigm to Evaluate Paw Preference and Dexterity in Rats. Front Behav Neurosci 2017; 11:192. [PMID: 29089877 PMCID: PMC5651527 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2017.00192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2017] [Accepted: 09/30/2017] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
In rodents, dexterity is commonly analyzed in preference paradigms in which animals are given the chance to use either the left or the right front paws to manipulate food. However, paw preference and dexterity at population and individual levels are controversial as results are incongruent across paradigms. We have therefore developed a semi-quantitative method—the pawdeness trait test (PaTRaT)—to evaluate paw preference degree in rats. The PaTRaT consists in a classification system, ranging from +4 to −4 where increasingly positive and negative values reflect the bias for left or right paw use, respectively. Sprague-Dawley male rats were confined into a metal rectangular mesh cylinder, from which they can see, smell and reach sugared rewards with their paws. Due to its size, the reward could only cross the mesh if aligned with its diagonal, imposing additional coordination. Animals were allowed to retrieve 10 rewards per session in a total of four sessions while their behavior was recorded. PaTRaT was repeated 4 and 8 weeks after the first evaluation. To exclude potential bias, rats were also tested for paw fine movement and general locomotion in other behavioral paradigms as well as impulsivity (variable delay-to-signal, VDS), memory and cognitive flexibility (water maze). At the population level 54% of the animals presented a rightward bias. Individually, all animals presented marked side-preferences, >2 and <−2 for left- and right-sided bias, respectively, and this preference was stable across the three evaluations. Inter-rater consistency was very high between two experienced raters and substantial when two additional inexperienced raters were included. Left- and right-biased animals presented no differences in the ability to perform fine movements with any of the forelimbs (staircase) and general locomotor performance. Additionally, these groups performed similarly in executive function and memory tasks. In conclusion, PaTRaT is able to reliably classify rats’ pawedness direction and degree.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana M Cunha
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Portugal
| | - Madalena Esteves
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Portugal
| | - Sofia P das Neves
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Portugal
| | - Sónia Borges
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Portugal
| | - Marco R Guimarães
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Portugal
| | - Nuno Sousa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Portugal
| | - Armando Almeida
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Portugal
| | - Hugo Leite-Almeida
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Portugal
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Hunter DS, Hazel SJ, Kind KL, Liu H, Marini D, Giles LC, De Blasio MJ, Owens JA, Pitcher JB, Gatford KL. Effects of induced placental and fetal growth restriction, size at birth and early neonatal growth on behavioural and brain structural lateralization in sheep. Laterality 2016; 22:560-589. [PMID: 27759494 DOI: 10.1080/1357650x.2016.1243552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Poor perinatal growth in humans results in asymmetrical grey matter loss in fetuses and infants and increased functional and behavioural asymmetry, but specific contributions of pre- and postnatal growth are unclear. We therefore compared strength and direction of lateralization in obstacle avoidance and maze exit preference tasks in offspring of placentally restricted (PR: 10M, 13F) and control (CON: 23M, 17F) sheep pregnancies at 18 and 40 weeks of age, and examined gross brain structure of the prefrontal cortex at 52 weeks of age (PR: 14M, 18F; CON: 23M, 25F). PR did not affect lateralization direction, but 40-week-old PR females had greater lateralization strength than CON (P = .021). Behavioural lateralization measures were not correlated with perinatal growth. PR did not alter brain morphology. In males, cross-sectional areas of the prefrontal cortex and left hemisphere correlated positively with skull width at birth, and white matter area correlated positively with neonatal growth rate of the skull (all P < .05). These studies reinforce the need to include progeny of both sexes in future studies of neurodevelopmental programming, and suggest that restricting in utero growth has relatively mild effects on gross brain structural or behavioural lateralization in sheep.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damien Seth Hunter
- a Robinson Research Institute , North Adelaide , Australia.,b Discipline of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Adelaide Medical School , Adelaide , Australia.,c School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences , Adelaide , South Australia , Australia
| | - Susan J Hazel
- c School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences , Adelaide , South Australia , Australia
| | - Karen L Kind
- a Robinson Research Institute , North Adelaide , Australia.,c School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences , Adelaide , South Australia , Australia
| | - Hong Liu
- a Robinson Research Institute , North Adelaide , Australia.,b Discipline of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Adelaide Medical School , Adelaide , Australia
| | - Danila Marini
- c School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences , Adelaide , South Australia , Australia
| | - Lynne C Giles
- a Robinson Research Institute , North Adelaide , Australia.,d School of Population Health , University of Adelaide , Adelaide , South Australia , Australia
| | - Miles J De Blasio
- a Robinson Research Institute , North Adelaide , Australia.,b Discipline of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Adelaide Medical School , Adelaide , Australia
| | - Julie A Owens
- a Robinson Research Institute , North Adelaide , Australia.,b Discipline of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Adelaide Medical School , Adelaide , Australia
| | - Julia B Pitcher
- a Robinson Research Institute , North Adelaide , Australia.,b Discipline of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Adelaide Medical School , Adelaide , Australia
| | - Kathryn L Gatford
- a Robinson Research Institute , North Adelaide , Australia.,b Discipline of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Adelaide Medical School , Adelaide , Australia
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Kutlu N, Vatansever HS, Bayazit TO, Ekerbicer N, Tan U. Blood brain barrier in right- and left-pawed female rats assessed by a new staining method. Int J Neurosci 2002; 112:1037-46. [PMID: 12487093 DOI: 10.1080/00207450290026030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
The asymmetrical breakdown of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) was studied in female rats. Paw preference was assessed by a food reaching test. Adrenaline-induced hypertension was used to destroy the BBB, which was evaluated using triphenyltetrazolium (TTC) staining of the brain slices just after giving adrenaline for 30 s. In normal rats, the whole brain sections exhibited complete staining with TTC. After adrenaline infusion for 30 s, there were large unstained areas in the left brain in right-pawed animals, and vice versa in left-pawed animals. Similar results were obtained in seizure-induced breakdown of BBB. These results were explained by an asymmetric cerebral blood flow depending upon the paw preference in rats. It was suggested that this new method and the results are consistent with contralateral motor control that may be important in determining the dominant cerebral hemisphere in animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Necip Kutlu
- Celal Bayar University Medical School, Department of Physiology, Manisa, Turkey
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Bisazza A, Sovrano VA, Vallortigara G. Consistency among different tasks of left-right asymmetries in lines of fish originally selected for opposite direction of lateralization in a detour task. Neuropsychologia 2001; 39:1077-85. [PMID: 11440760 DOI: 10.1016/s0028-3932(01)00034-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Lines of fish, Girardinus falcatus preferentially turning rightward (RD) or leftward (LD) when facing a dummy predator visible behind a barrier have been obtained through selective breeding. To check whether lateralization was maintained in other behavioral responses, five different tests were carried out. They comprised measures of (1) turning direction in a T-maze; (2) proportion of clockwise and anticlockwise direction of rotation in a circular arena; (3) preferential eye use by females during shoaling behavior (i.e. while looking at their own mirror image reflection); (4) preferential eye use by males during sexual behavior (i.e. while turning around a barrier to join a group of females); and (5) preferential eye use by males during agonistic behavior (i.e. while attacking a rival visible in a mirror). In all five tests the two selected lines showed opposite direction of lateralization. Results thus indicate that behavioral asymmetries in the detour test are predictive of lateralization in other types of behavioral tests. Moreover, results show that RD and LD fish have a similar but left-right reversed pattern of subdivision of cognitive/ behavioral functions, which is suggestive of a similarly left-right reversed (mirror image) brain organization.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Bisazza
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Via Venezia 8, 35131 Padova, Italy.
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Gasne M, Millot JL, Brand G, Math F. Intercorrelations among tests of lateralisation in the BALB/c mouse. Laterality 2001; 6:89-96. [PMID: 15513162 DOI: 10.1080/713754395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
In order to examine the reliability of lateralised behaviours, BALB/c mice were tested in three different situations: the Collins paw preference test (PPT), the rotatory swimming test (RST), and the T maze test (TMT). The results showed a significant correlation between the scores of lateralisation in the PPT and the RST, but a lack of lateralisation in the TMT. Considering the tasks involved in these tests, these results appear to support the hypothesis of close links between lateralised behaviours, emotional processes, and neural pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Gasne
- Université de Franche-Comté, France
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