Behavioral effects of single and repeated traumatic brain injury in rodents
Advisor(s)
Phillip Zoladz
Confirmation
1
Document Type
Poster
Location
ONU McIntosh Center; Activities Room
Start Date
24-4-2026 10:00 AM
End Date
24-4-2026 10:50 AM
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of disability worldwide and has been associated with increased vulnerability to anxiety- and stress-related disorders. The present studies aimed to pilot rodent models of both single and repeated TBI in order to establish a reliable behavioral paradigm for future research examining interactions between brain trauma and stress. In Experiment 1, we investigated the effects of a single closed-head TBI on behavior using a weight drop model that was adapted from previous work. Following injury, rats were evaluated across several behavioral tasks, including time-to-right (TTR), balance beam, elevated plus maze (EPM), open field, acoustic startle response, and radial-arm water maze. Behavioral validation measures (TTR and balance beam) did not yield significant effects of injury, suggesting that the TBI paradigm did not produce robust functional deficits. As a consequence, the interpretation of other behavioral findings was limited. In Experiment 2, we examined a repeated TBI (rTBI) model, in which rats were given three TBIs on three consecutive days, followed by the same behavioral battery used in Experiment 1. rTBI rats demonstrated longer TTR and greater hind-leg foot slips on the balance beam task, validating functional effects of the paradigm. Additionally, rTBI rats spent less time in the open arms of the EPM, consistent with increased anxiety-like behavior. All other behavioral measures showed insignificant findings. These pilot findings suggest that repeated injury in the weight drop model produces reliable motor and anxiety-like deficits, whereas the single-injury paradigm yields inconsistent behavioral outcomes.
Recommended Citation
King, Kylie M.; Savini, Marisa J.; and Zoladz, Phillip R., "Behavioral effects of single and repeated traumatic brain injury in rodents" (2026). ONU Student Research Colloquium. 11.
https://digitalcommons.onu.edu/student_research_colloquium/2026/Posters/11
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Behavioral effects of single and repeated traumatic brain injury in rodents
ONU McIntosh Center; Activities Room
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of disability worldwide and has been associated with increased vulnerability to anxiety- and stress-related disorders. The present studies aimed to pilot rodent models of both single and repeated TBI in order to establish a reliable behavioral paradigm for future research examining interactions between brain trauma and stress. In Experiment 1, we investigated the effects of a single closed-head TBI on behavior using a weight drop model that was adapted from previous work. Following injury, rats were evaluated across several behavioral tasks, including time-to-right (TTR), balance beam, elevated plus maze (EPM), open field, acoustic startle response, and radial-arm water maze. Behavioral validation measures (TTR and balance beam) did not yield significant effects of injury, suggesting that the TBI paradigm did not produce robust functional deficits. As a consequence, the interpretation of other behavioral findings was limited. In Experiment 2, we examined a repeated TBI (rTBI) model, in which rats were given three TBIs on three consecutive days, followed by the same behavioral battery used in Experiment 1. rTBI rats demonstrated longer TTR and greater hind-leg foot slips on the balance beam task, validating functional effects of the paradigm. Additionally, rTBI rats spent less time in the open arms of the EPM, consistent with increased anxiety-like behavior. All other behavioral measures showed insignificant findings. These pilot findings suggest that repeated injury in the weight drop model produces reliable motor and anxiety-like deficits, whereas the single-injury paradigm yields inconsistent behavioral outcomes.