Motor-driven treadmill for studying locomotion in cats. 1977

W G Phillips, and J V Wait, and M C Wetzel

Increasing experimental concern with locomotion and its neural control prompted the construction of a motor-driven treadmill for cats. The apparatus was designed for kinematic analysis of gait from 16 mm movie film, but it will also permit a variety of other records to be taken. A box, or base, houses two large drums and the belt drive. Space is provided on top of the base for a closed locomotion compartment that is transparent on the filming side. There is also sufficient space on top of the base for support apparatus, operator controls, and animal exits. Cats may be trained to work for food reward alone, as delivered from the front by the operator. Alternatively, they can be trained to stay near the front of the treadmill belt in order to avoid an aversive jet of air or electric shock, either of which can be delivered at the rear of the test chamber. The operator can maintain forward belt velocity at fixed levels between 0.5 and 6 m/sec, or he can vary velocity continuously. Displays of a tachometer and a special timing device are large enough to be clearly visible on the film. These various features in combination provide a controlled and varsatile stepping environment, in which the cat can move without physical restraints.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008124 Locomotion Movement or the ability to move from one place or another. It can refer to humans, vertebrate or invertebrate animals, and microorganisms. Locomotor Activity,Activities, Locomotor,Activity, Locomotor,Locomotor Activities
D009482 Neurophysiology The scientific discipline concerned with the physiology of the nervous system.
D002415 Cats The domestic cat, Felis catus, of the carnivore family FELIDAE, comprising over 30 different breeds. The domestic cat is descended primarily from the wild cat of Africa and extreme southwestern Asia. Though probably present in towns in Palestine as long ago as 7000 years, actual domestication occurred in Egypt about 4000 years ago. (From Walker's Mammals of the World, 6th ed, p801) Felis catus,Felis domesticus,Domestic Cats,Felis domestica,Felis sylvestris catus,Cat,Cat, Domestic,Cats, Domestic,Domestic Cat
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia

Related Publications

W G Phillips, and J V Wait, and M C Wetzel
September 1979, The Journal of sports medicine and physical fitness,
W G Phillips, and J V Wait, and M C Wetzel
January 1985, Experimental brain research,
W G Phillips, and J V Wait, and M C Wetzel
December 1981, American journal of physical medicine,
W G Phillips, and J V Wait, and M C Wetzel
January 2012, Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. Annual International Conference,
W G Phillips, and J V Wait, and M C Wetzel
May 2022, The Journal of experimental biology,
W G Phillips, and J V Wait, and M C Wetzel
January 1981, Experimental brain research,
W G Phillips, and J V Wait, and M C Wetzel
February 1976, Physiology & behavior,
W G Phillips, and J V Wait, and M C Wetzel
May 1968, Research quarterly,
W G Phillips, and J V Wait, and M C Wetzel
September 1980, Journal of neurophysiology,
W G Phillips, and J V Wait, and M C Wetzel
November 1964, Journal of applied physiology,
Copied contents to your clipboard!