Chewing Gum Boosts Memory: Myth or Fact?

People have all sorts of ways of keeping themselves alert, active, and ready for action throughout the day. Some of us tap our pencils or our legs. Others look at memes or take a cigarette break, anything to break up the monotony and get ourselves back on task. 

Many people chew gum out of boredom for the same reason, but the positive effects associated with chewing gum may go much deeper than the simple novelty of the activity and the taste. Research shows that chewing gum might actually be one of the most effective ways to improve your mood, boost memory function, and improve cognition overall. 

Does chewing gum help your memory? Is there a connection between improved test performance and chewing gum? The research is ongoing. How do you stand to benefit?

Does Chewing Gum Improve Memory and Intellectual Performance?

While there is nothing as a magic, cure-all solution to the 2 pm blues, chewing gum might just be the thing to lift your spirits when you’re bored and ready for a break.

The Science Behind the Alerting Effects of Chewing Gum

There are many research studies that can attest to the benefits of chewing gum. 

You’ll see that there are a couple of schools of thought to consider, but most of what you’ll find attributes much of the perceived improvement in performance and cognitive function to the physical stimulation that chewing in general confers. A couple of these findings, however, might actually surprise you.

Chewing Gum Gets Out Brains Moving

It’s not just our brains, either. In fact, chewing gum has been demonstrated to be a biological stressor; this study found that the cortisol levels^[3] of each participant increased after chewing gum, with a much higher heart rate than usual afterward.

This might be the key link between gum-chewing and cognitive performance. Our attention becomes razor-sharp when cortisol floods our bodies, but that’s not all that the scientific community has found to be self-evident in this area.

Some research implies that the payoff may also simply come as a direct result of^[4] “mastication-induced arousal” – the neuromusculoskeletal stimulation that working the jaw and feeling the gum tactily in the mouth provides. 

These possible neurological benefits suggested by the study mentioned here appeared to fade around fifteen to twenty minutes after the test participant was done chewing. During those windows of time, however, this systematic review found that, indeed, gum-chewers outpaced their gumless competitors significantly.

Chewing Gum Makes Us Less Sleepy

Other research focuses on the way that gum chewing seems to make us feel less sleepy^[5], even as we’re petering out for the afternoon. This inquiry cited here used something called the Pupillographic Sleepiness Test, or PST for short, to assess trial participants for pupillary unrest. 

The results were more than compelling. It was suggested that chewing gum helps improve cerebral activity, both through the action of chewing and because the test subjects were aroused by the flavor of the gum.

What About the Hippocampus?

Finally, we would like to mention research that draws a line^[6] between mastication in any context and the hippocampus, the organ in the brain responsible for learning and memory. 

Chewing might be one effective way of catalyzing neurogenesis in the hippocampus, which is the process by which new brain cells are generated. 

As we age, our brain cells become worn out, tattered, and atrophied, and our ability to heal in this regard diminishes over time. These researchers assert that the neurological effect associated with chewing gum might be able to help the elderly regain any cognitive ability lost throughout the years by stimulating neurogenesis.

Other Natural Ways to Improve Memory and Stay Focused

If chewing gum makes you gag, there are plenty of other helpful tactics that you can turn to when you’re feeling restless at the office:

• Keep your work or study area clean and free of distraction and clutter
• Avoid lulls in your day by blocking your time and utilizing it with purpose
• You can meditate and practice mindfulness^[7]; even a very short mental check-in with yourself can get you moving in the right direction again
• Try to get your heart rate up with a brisk walk around the block after lunch
• If you have a favorite perfume or candle, you can take a mood-boosting sniff^[8]
• Avoid mindlessly scrolling on social media^[9], especially when you’ve got a lot to do
• You can drink coffee in moderation – research shows that, in small doses^[10], coffee might be able to help you power through mundane tasks more efficiently
• Stay hydrated and make sure that you’re replenishing yourself at all times
• The same goes when it comes to your diet; when your body has everything that it needs^[11], you’ll feel calmer and more engaged with the task in front of you
• In this vein, you might be interested in supplementing your daily routine with nootropic stacks, vitamin cocktails designed to improve memory and focus
• Adequate sleep is vital for all people^[12] – if you’re sleeping poorly, your cognitive performance is likely to suffer greatly^[13]

There are so many ways to reinvigorate yourself when you’re down to the wire and you’d rather be anywhere else than at your desk. Chewing gum is one option, but we invite you to experiment. There is a different winning formula for every type of person in the world.

Chewing Gum and Productivity: Your New Ace-in-the-Hole

We would be remiss to call any research study on gum totally conclusive, but we have to admit: the logic is sound. In the same way that regular exercise activates the brain^[14], so too can gum-chewing. 

Chewing gum is a discreet and pleasurable way to get your gears turning when you’re completely depleted of motivation and gusto. And, on top of that, you’ll be feeling minty and fresh all day long.

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