A measure of lateral paw preference in the mouse.

A lateral paw preference testing unit is described. Mice are allowed access to preferred food with either their left or right forepaw, and the amount eaten with each paw is measured. The unit allows easy measurement and quantification of this behavior, without requiring food deprivation or continuous monitoring of the subjects, and may be performed in the subject's home cage. Its reliability under a number of conditions is reported. The results do not correlate with those obtained using the Collins paw preference test.