Khaberni - Polish researchers used brain imaging techniques to reveal how chewing affects attention and stress regulation networks.
According to "Fox News," the research team from the University of Szczecin in Poland used magnetic resonance imaging techniques, electroencephalography, and near-infrared spectroscopy measurements, and found that chewing alters brain activity in areas related to movement, attention, and stress regulation.
These results help explain why you feel calm or focused after the flavor has dissipated, even with this seemingly futile task.
History of Chewing Gum
The habit of chewing gum dates back at least 8,000 years in Scandinavian countries, where people chewed birch bark tar to soften it and use it as glue for tools.
Other ancient civilizations, such as the Greeks, Native Americans, and Mayans, chewed tree resins for pleasure or for their calming effects, according to National Geographic.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, William Wrigley Junior transformed gum from just a new product into a widely consumed habit through innovative and continuous marketing campaigns.
His brands, such as Juicy Fruit and Spearmint, promoted gum as a way to soothe nerves, curb appetite, and maintain focus.
Stress Relief
In the 1940s, a study found that chewing gum relieves stress, but it did not determine the reason.
The New York Times commented on the study results at the time: "Those who chew gum relax, thereby getting more work done".
The results of the new study confirm previous findings that chewing gum may relieve stress, but only in certain situations.
In laboratory trials, those who chewed gum while performing slightly stressful tasks, such as public speaking or mental arithmetic, reported lower anxiety levels compared to those who did not chew it.
Effectiveness Limits
However, chewing gum has not proven effective in consistently reducing anxiety in highly stressful medical situations, such as those immediately before surgery, and it showed no clear benefit when participants faced difficult problems designed to induce frustration.
Furthermore, researchers in multiple studies have found that those who chewed gum did not recall lists of words or stories better than those who did not chew it, and any improvement in attention quickly faded after stopping the chewing.
