Behavioral Model Report

Rodent Behavioral Paradigm: Tail Flick Assay

The tail flick assay is meant to measure the response of a rodent to heat. Either the intensity of the response or the latency. The rodent is restrained and the researcher applies a heat source to the middle part of the tail of the rodent. The time it takes, or latency, for the response is measured. In the tail flick assay, a high intensity beam of light is directed at the rodent's tail. You would also need to know how to measure the time it takes for the rodent to respond by flicking its tail. Other tail flick models use a heated water bath instead of the beam of light. 

I think that this method is fairly valid at determing the the latency of response to a pain source. Potential improvements that I have is to apply this to other parts of the rodent like their feet. This is because the tail might be overly sensitive or not sensitive compared to other body parts so its important to develop an overal latency.