puzzle box

noun

Psychology.

1. an enclosure, used in experiments in animal learning, from which an animal must escape or in which it must manipulate various devices.

Word History and Origins

Origin of puzzle box¹

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

“Alice in Borderland” presents a more straightforward premise in the form of a puzzle box narrative.

From Salon

Danielle Trussoni’s “The Puzzle Box” received the award for mystery/thriller.

From Los Angeles Times

Her experiment showed that birds were able to learn how to liberate food from a puzzle box by copying the solution from others -- confirming that the original milk-raiding birds had also been passing on their thieving ways to their flock.

From Science Daily

Using an automated puzzle box system they developed, the team designed an experiment to test this immigration hypothesis.

From Science Daily

Each group was provided a tutor which was trained to access food from a puzzle box by either pushing the door left or right.

From Science Daily