Methods of automatically measuring a reaction time of an animal, in a cage, to a stimulus, are described. First, an animal is detected, then a second apparatus waits for the animal to be fully on the apparatus. A first apparatus outside the cage then provides a stimulus. A second, sterilizable, wireless apparatus inside the cage measures a response of the animal such a jerk, using an accelerometer. The first and second apparatuses time-synchronize. The second device transmits wirelessly the response time data, after optional preprocessing, to the first apparatus. For multi-housed animals, an ID of the animal is determined. The second apparatus may comprise an animal weight scale.
