Last Minute Lecture

Orbitofrontal Cortex, Emotional Attunement, and the Real Roots of ADD: The Footprints of Infancy | Chapter 10 of Scattered Minds by Gabor Maté Welcome to Last Minute Lecture’s in-depth summary and analysis of Chapter 10 from Scattered Minds by Dr. Gabor Maté. In this pivotal chapter, Dr. Maté explores how emotional experiences in infancy shape the brain’s development—especially the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC)—and lay the groundwork for either resilience or Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). Watch our full chapter video below for a neuroscience-informed breakdown, and subscribe to Last Minute Lecture for more evidence-based guides to psychology and childhood development: Subscribe to Last Minute Lecture for more chapter summaries, mental health education, and practical parenting insights. Orbitofrontal Cortex: The Brain’s Emotional Hub Dr. Gabor Maté highlights the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC)—located just behind the right eye—as a crucial brain region for attention, impulse ...

Brain Development, Emotional Attunement, and the Roots of ADD: The Surrealistic Choreography of Childhood | Chapter 8 of Scattered Minds by Gabor Maté Welcome to Last Minute Lecture’s comprehensive summary and analysis of Chapter 8 from Scattered Minds by Dr. Gabor Maté. This chapter unpacks how the human brain’s development is intricately shaped by the early emotional environment, and how this “surrealistic choreography” determines the risk for ADD and other attention challenges. Begin by watching our full video summary below. Don’t forget to subscribe to Last Minute Lecture for more chapter-by-chapter guides and expert breakdowns on psychology, neuroscience, and child development: Subscribe to Last Minute Lecture for more textbook summaries and neuroscience insights. The Brain’s Fragile Dance: Genetics, Experience, and Neural Darwinism Dr. Gabor Maté opens Chapter 8 by exploring the extraordinary complexity of the human brain. With billions of neurons and trillions of ...

Time Blindness, Prefrontal Cortex, and Self-Regulation in ADD: Forgetting to Remember the Future | Chapter 5 of Scattered Minds by Gabor Maté Welcome to Last Minute Lecture’s in-depth summary and analysis of Chapter 5 from Scattered Minds by Dr. Gabor Maté. In this chapter, Dr. Maté explores the neuroscience behind ADD’s most frustrating challenges: time blindness, poor self-regulation, and the struggle to connect present actions with future outcomes. Start by watching our full video summary to see these concepts in action, and remember to subscribe to Last Minute Lecture for more academic deep-dives and textbook guides: Subscribe to Last Minute Lecture for chapter-by-chapter guides and insights on psychology, neuroscience, and mental health. Time Blindness: The Core Cognitive Challenge in ADD Dr. Gabor Maté introduces “time blindness”—a term coined by Dr. Russell Barkley—to describe the unique way people with ADD perceive time. For those with ADD, time is experienced on...

Puberty, Brain Development, and Teen Health — Summary of Chapter 14 from The Developing Person Adolescence is a period of profound change—biological, cognitive, emotional, and social. Chapter 14 of The Developing Person Through the Life Span dives into the biosocial development of adolescents, covering everything from hormonal shifts and brain development to nutrition, body image, and sexual maturation. This post summarizes key points to support your understanding of adolescent growth, offering insight into developmental psychology and exam preparation. 🎥 Watch the full summary above and subscribe to Last Minute Lecture for more chapter-by-chapter educational breakdowns. Puberty and Physical Growth Puberty marks a critical stage in adolescent development, typically starting between ages 8 and 14. This stage is initiated by two major hormonal systems: HPA axis (hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal) HPG axis (hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad) These systems regulate the re...

Health, Brain Growth, and Special Education in Middle Childhood — Summary of Chapter 11 from The Developing Person Through the Life Span Middle childhood, spanning ages 6 to 11, is a dynamic period of physical, cognitive, and educational development. Chapter 11 of Kathleen Stassen Berger’s The Developing Person Through the Life Span highlights the health trends, brain maturation, and special education strategies that define this stage. From fine motor skills and physical activity to the complexities of neurodiversity, this chapter provides a comprehensive view of how children grow and learn during these important years. Watch the full video above to hear the full podcast-style breakdown, or keep reading for a detailed written guide to the chapter’s most important concepts. Health and Physical Development Growth Patterns Children in this age range typically grow 2 inches and gain 5 pounds per year . It’s considered the healthiest life stage, with low death rates and incre...

Early Childhood Biosocial Growth and Safety — Summary of Chapter 8 from The Developing Person Through the Life Span Between ages 2 and 6, children undergo rapid physical, neurological, and emotional changes. Chapter 8 of Kathleen Stassen Berger’s The Developing Person Through the Life Span examines how nature and nurture shape early childhood biosocial development. The chapter covers physical growth, brain development, motor skills, nutrition, and crucial safety concerns, providing a comprehensive guide to this formative stage of life. Watch the full video above for a detailed breakdown of early childhood development, or continue reading to explore the chapter’s key themes and terms. Physical Growth and Body Changes Between ages 2 and 6, children grow roughly 3 inches in height and gain 4.5 pounds per year. They transition from toddler proportions to a more adult-like shape. Growth is steady, and proper nutrition plays a vital role during this period. However, many chil...

Development, Modification & Dysfunctions — Neuroscience for Dummies Chapter 16 Summary Welcome back to Last Minute Lecture ! In this podcast-style summary of Chapter 16 from Neuroscience for Dummies (3rd Edition) , we dive into the incredible ways the brain develops, adapts, and even deteriorates over time. From neural tube formation to stem cell therapy, this episode highlights the dynamic nature of the nervous system—its potential, its vulnerabilities, and its future. Brain Development & Early Organization Chapter 16 begins with the formation of the neural tube —an embryonic structure that eventually forms the brain and spinal cord. As development progresses, neurons migrate and organize into minicolumns , creating the neocortex’s foundational processing units. Both genetic instructions and environmental inputs play critical roles in shaping neural architecture. Synaptic Pruning & Plasticity The brain fine-tunes itself through synaptic pruning , a process ...