Schools may want to revise their “no chewing gum in class” rule, as studies indicate that chewing gum increases concentration and relieves stress.
Several studies have reported on the brain-enhancing benefits of chewing gum, including improvements in concentration, mood, and stress.
In 2011, NPR wrote, “Researchers at St. Lawrence University found a distinct gum advantage in tests taken by chewing and non-chewing students. That effect lasts 20 minutes.”
Additionally, a podcast by Amy Kraft of Scientific American states:
Researchers had two groups of 20 people each listen to a 30-minute recording that included a sequence of numbers. After listening, the participants were asked to remember the sequence. But only one groups chewed gum—and they had higher accuracy rates and faster reaction times than the non-gum chewers.
Sources
- Study: Chewing Gum Boosts Brain Power (NPR: November 30, 2011)
- Chew Away Stress? (eweber, Brain Leaders and Learners: March 24, 2013)
- Gum Chewing May Improve Concentration (Amy Kraft, Scientific American: March 26, 2013)
