Science confirms: chewing gum reduces stress and improves concentration.

According to ТСН: Researchers from the University of Szczecin in Poland found that the habit of chewing gum may help improve concentration and reduce stress.

The authors of the study, employing MRI, EEG, and near-infrared spectroscopy, discovered that chewing affects brain activity in areas responsible for movement, attention, and stress regulation.

It turned out that chewing gum activates not only the motor and sensory networks of the brain involved in the chewing process but also higher areas related to attention, alertness, and emotional control.

Researchers confirmed previously known information that chewing gum can reduce stress, but only under certain conditions. In laboratory experiments, participants who chewed gum while performing tasks that induced moderate stress, such as public speaking or doing mental calculations, often reported feeling less anxious than those who did not chew gum.

However, in medical situations accompanied by high stress, such as just before surgery, chewing gum did not always reduce anxiety and did not bring significant benefits when participants faced confusing problems that caused frustration.

The researchers also found that participants who chewed gum did not remember word lists or stories better than those who did not, and any improvement in attention disappeared immediately after the chewing stopped.

“Although these effects are often short-term, the range of results… highlights the ability of chewing gum to modulate brain functions that go beyond the simple control of mouth movements. However, at present, the neural changes associated with chewing gum cannot be directly linked to positive behavioral and functional outcomes observed in studies,” concluded the researchers.

History of Chewing Gum

The history of chewing gum dates back at least 8,000 years. This habit originated in Scandinavia, where people chewed birch resin to soften it and use it as a glue for tools.

Other ancient cultures, including the Greeks, Native Americans, and Maya, also chewed tree resins for enjoyment or soothing purposes.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, William Wrigley Jr. turned chewing gum from a novelty into a mass consumer habit. His brands marketed chewing gum as a means to calm nerves, curb hunger, and boost concentration.

In the 1940s, research showed that chewing gum reduces tension but did not explain why this happens. Now scientists are gradually beginning to unravel the biological reasons behind these ancient beliefs.

Meanwhile, recent research revealed that video games may have a stronger impact on developing cognitive skills than traditional board games, including chess.