Gum sales exceed $ 4 billion in the United States alone. People chew gum for many reasons. For example, chewing gum helps stimulate saliva production, freshen breath, cleans teeth, aids digestion, relieves stress, and improves mood. In an article published in the March / April 2019 issue of the Journal of Applied Cognitive Psychology, Jin and colleagues say that chewing gum may enhance attention, alertness, and learning.
Benefits of chewing gum:
Although some research has concluded that chewing gum improves memory, focus, and constant attention and reduces stress, other research has not found such benefits. A recent systematic review of 21 studies found not strong, but statistically demonstrated the relationship between chewing gum and aiding focus.
The important question is how can chewing gum improve attention, memory, or learning?
There is a host of theories indicating that chewing gum increases physiological arousal. Optimal physiological arousal leads to improved attention, learning, memory, and performance. Alternatively, chewing gum might decrease “stress hormones” (such as cortisol), leading to less stress and thus improved mental performance. Finally, the benefits associated with the performance of chewing gum may stem from the increased blood flow and availability of glucose (i.e. sugar) in the brain.
Two experiments on chewing gum:
In a series of two experiments, conducted by Ginns et al. The following two hypotheses were tested: First, compared to students who did not chew gum, students who chewed gum while studying would be more attentive. Second, chewers will outperform others, regardless of the material or method of study.
The first experiment: chewing gum while studying physiology
Forty (13 male) college students in the experiment were randomly assigned and divided into two groups: chewers and non-chewers. Both groups were asked to take a course in physiology (about heart function).
Before studying, students in the first group were provided with a piece of gum mint and asked to chew gum while studying. After studying, both groups completed the same multiple-choice tests on cardiac physiology.
The analysis of the data showed that the two groups were similar, but unexpectedly, it appeared that those assigned to the state of chewing were more alert than the group that had not actually chewed (before chewing the gum). After controlling for this difference, the data showed that chewing gum did not appear to arouse alertness to a statistically significant level in the chewing condition.
However, in the multiple choice combination tests, the difference between chewing and non-chewing was statistically significant, indicating that chewing gum helped improve learning. Therefore, the results support the second hypothesis, not the first.
The second experiment: chewing gum while studying mathematics
The second experiment used a different subject of study (mental multiplication) and the method of instruction (using practical examples and exercise questions), but otherwise, it used a similar design and procedure as in the previous investigation.
40 students (10 males) were assigned to this experiment and were randomly assigned to two groups: chewing gum and non-chewing gum. As before, only one group chewed gum while studying. Both teams then complete two tests, each test containing ten questions.
Both groups were equivalent in the pre-test measures, including alertness.
In support of the researchers' first hypothesis, the analysis of data showed that chewers, compared to non-chewers, were more alert at the end of the study period. Moreover, in the testing phase, the chewers, as compared to the non-chewers, made fewer errors and answered more test questions correctly.
The magnitude of the positive effects of chewing on test performance were similar in both trials, although the math study period (and thus the chewing gum phase) was significantly shorter than the cardiac physiology lesson (9 to 20 minutes).
Concluding thoughts on chewing gum and learning:
These results indicate that chewing gum while studying might improve test performance. While conducting this research, applied lessons and two very different types of material design and education were used that support realistic application and generalization of findings. Of course, future studies need to examine the effects of the number and type of chewing gum mixed, the time the gum is chewed per day, the length of study, the period between chewing gum and the time of the test, the age group of the participants, and the learning methodology (for example, classroom learning rather than study). Subjectivity).
The bottom line is that:
chewing gum while studying may be beneficial in improving test performance, possibly through the effects of chewing gum on increased attention and focus. But we need to bear in mind that these benefits need to be balanced with the downsides of chewing gum, such as jaw pain or dental cavity.
Additionally, alternative methods of increasing focus should be considered. I don't mean drinking a lot of tea or coffee - or worse, so-called energy drinks - that also have side effects, but other approaches like exercising, getting enough sleep at night, and reducing stress, which may be safer and healthier. It increases focus and attention.
For me, I wouldn't go to an exam without gum after now 😄
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