While he didn't invent the concept of testing mental abilities, he was the first to use the term "mental test" in a published paper in 1890, titled "Mental Tests and Measurements."
Cattell's work laid the groundwork for the development of modern intelligence testing. He focused on measuring basic sensory and motor abilities, which he believed were indicators of underlying mental abilities.
While his specific tests may not be considered "intelligence tests" by modern standards, his research and terminology were crucial in shaping the field of psychological testing.