Why did Luigi Galvani study the anatomy of frogs?

Luigi Galvani’s study of frog anatomy was a natural extension of his early research in comparative anatomy and physiology, which he began as a lecturer at the University of Bologna.1

His focus shifted toward electrophysiology in the late 1770s after he acquired an electrostatic machine and a Leyden jar. By experimenting with these devices, he observed that electrical stimulation could cause muscular contractions in frogs. Galvani ultimately sought to investigate the nature of what he termed "animal electricity," a vital force he believed was innate to living tissue and responsible for activating nerves and muscles. His work with frogs was foundational to the field of electrophysiology and provided the stimulus for the development of the voltaic pile.1