2.3. “Deprivation” intervention

During week one or two post-injury, rats received deprivation intervention by having their whiskers shaved to minimize somatosensory circuit activation to simulate mandatory ‘rest’ that is often recommended after concussion. Whiskers were shaved close to the mystacial pads using an electric razor while lightly restraining the rat. In “deprivation week 1” (sham: n = 6; FPI: n = 9), the whiskers were shaved on the first day post-injury and again four days later; in “deprivation week two” (sham: n = 6; FPI: n = 10), the whiskers were shaved on the eighth day post-injury and repeated four days later. Rats received no other intervention until administration of the WNT at 28 days post-injury.