What animal did Edward Thorndike use in his experiments?

Edward Thorndike is well-known for his experiments in behavioral psychology, specifically through his work with animals to study learning and problem-solving. He famously conducted experiments using cats, particularly in a device he created called the "puzzle box." In these experiments, a cat was placed inside the box and had to learn how to escape by performing a series of actions, such as pulling a lever or stepping on a platform. Thorndike observed that, over successive trials, the cats became faster at escaping, demonstrating the principle of trial and error learning. This work laid the foundation for the theory of connectionism and contributed significantly to the development of operant conditioning.

Understanding that Thorndike's primary subjects were cats provides insights into his research methods and findings in psychology, particularly regarding learning processes and behaviors in animals.