AP Psychology: Key Concepts & Theories

What are the branch-like extensions of a neuron that receive messages from other cells?

Dendrites

Which neurotransmitter is most closely associated with the brain's reward system and motor control?

Dopamine

What is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system?

GABA (Gamma-aminobutyric acid)

Which brain structure is primarily responsible for the formation of new long-term memories?

Hippocampus

Which almond-shaped part of the limbic system is vital for processing emotions like fear and aggression?

Amygdala

Which part of the brain is responsible for executive functions, planning, and personality expression?

Prefrontal Cortex

What is the term for the minimum stimulation needed to detect a particular stimulus 50 percent of the time?

Absolute Threshold

Which law states that the change in a stimulus that will be just noticeable is a constant ratio of the original stimulus?

Weber's Law

Which theory predicts how and when we detect the presence of a faint stimulus amid background noise?

Signal Detection Theory

In Pavlov's experiments, what was the bell called after the dogs learned to salivate to its sound?

Conditioned Stimulus (CS)