Chewing Gum May Boost Short-Term Focus and Ease Mild Stress, Polish Neuroimaging Review Finds
A 2025 neuroimaging review from the University of Szczecin finds chewing gum briefly activates attention and stress‑regulation circuits, producing short-lived increases in alertness and a mild calming “relaxed concentration” state measured with fMRI, fNIRS and EEG.
Key takeaways
- Neuroimaging evidence: The 2025 review pooled fMRI, fNIRS and EEG human studies and is indexed on PubMed.
- Brain activation: Chewing reliably engages sensorimotor areas plus prefrontal and cingulate regions tied to attention and stress regulation.
- EEG signature: Brief rises in alpha and beta power — described as “relaxed concentration” — occur while chewing but fade soon after.
- Practical effects: Modest, short-term boosts in alertness and mild anxiety relief; memory and long-term performance gains are inconsistent.
The study and what “neuroimaging review” means
Paper: The review, titled “The Neural Correlates of Chewing Gum – A Neuroimaging Review of Its Effects on Brain Activity,” examined human experiments published from 1980 through March 2025 and searched PubMed/Medline, Scopus, ResearchGate, Google Scholar and Cochrane. The review entry is listed on PubMed.
Neuroimaging tools explained:
- fMRI — measures blood flow changes in the brain.
- fNIRS — tracks oxygenation in cortical areas.
- EEG — records electrical brain waves.
Core brain findings: motor, sensory — and beyond
Across fMRI studies, chewing gum consistently lights up areas that control chewing and sense the mouth, including the primary motor cortex, supplementary motor area, primary somatosensory cortex, insula, cerebellum and thalamus. The review (see PubMed) highlights these as robust sensorimotor signals.
Importantly, several studies found activity beyond basic oral circuits. Chewing — especially flavored gum or chewing during mildly stressful tasks — also engaged the prefrontal cortex (attention/executive control) and anterior cingulate (conflict monitoring, emotional regulation).
fNIRS: more blood flow to attention areas
fNIRS studies reported increased oxygenated hemoglobin in the prefrontal cortex while subjects chewed, suggesting greater engagement of planning and attention circuits. The review notes stronger fNIRS effects with flavored gum and under mild stress (see PubMed).
EEG: “relaxed concentration” for a short time
EEG studies reported transient increases in alpha and beta power during chewing. Alpha links to relaxed wakefulness and inward focus; beta links to alertness and active concentration. The combination has been described as “relaxed concentration”, but the review emphasizes these EEG shifts are brief and usually fade after chewing stops (see PubMed and media summaries such as AOL).
What this means for performance and memory
The review proposes a plausible mechanism for brief improvements in alertness or mild anxiety relief but sets clear limits:
- Attention and vigilance: Chewing can temporarily boost attention or vigilance, but effects are modest and short-lived (see PubMed and Fox News coverage).
- Memory: Behavioral studies did not show consistent improvements in memory for lists or stories (media summary: AOL).
- Overall performance: Practical gains are small and often disappear once chewing stops; chewing may partly satisfy a fidgeting need that helps sustain engagement during repetitive tasks.
Stress and emotional regulation: useful in mild situations
Neuroimaging shows chewing recruits cingulate and prefrontal regions involved in stress regulation. Behaviorally:
- In mildly stressful lab tasks (public speaking practice, mental arithmetic), some chewers reported lower anxiety than non‑chewers.
- In very high‑stress medical settings (e.g., immediate pre‑surgery), chewing did not reliably reduce anxiety.
- Chewing is not a clear help when tasks are unsolvable or extremely frustrating.
These findings are summarized in the review and media coverage (see PubMed and Fox News).
Cautions and limitations
- Acute effects: Most effects are measured during or immediately after chewing; long‑term benefits are unproven (see PubMed).
- Heterogeneous methods: Different gums, tasks and subject groups lead to mixed results.
- Correlation vs causation: Imaging shows brain changes but cannot prove chewing causes enduring performance gains.
- Dental issues: Excessive chewing or additives can have downsides; sugar‑free gum can reduce cavities but may still pose other oral risks (media note: Fox News).
What the review calls for
Next steps: Authors urge more research on longer‑term effects, careful separation of flavor and stress variables, and testing whether chewing or other mastication actions could be developed into therapeutic tools (review: PubMed).
Coverage and commentary
The review has been summarized by outlets including Fox News and AOL. Teacher‑focused commentary reiterates that chewing gum activates attention and stress‑regulation circuits but is not a cure‑all for classroom engagement (see TeacherToolkit).
Implications for Huntington Beach, California
Local implications are modest but concrete. The review supports measured, context‑sensitive use of chewing gum as a brief alertness and mild stress‑relief tool.
Economic and workplace impact
Small businesses and office workers may find gum a low‑cost, low‑risk option to sharpen attention during repetitive tasks; local retailers could see small sales increases for sugar‑free gum marketed for focus and mild stress relief. Employers who value productivity and choice might permit gum where safety and hygiene are not affected.
Education and schools
Schools and parents will weigh small attention benefits against cleanliness and policy. The review supports a measured approach: targeted, supervised use during long, dull tasks rather than blanket permission.
Public safety and first responders
Police, firefighters and other responders who endure long quiet periods may try gum as a short‑term alertness aid, provided agencies assess safety, communication impacts and professional image.
Health and personal responsibility
Residents should treat gum as a tool, not therapy. It may help mildly with stress and brief focus but is not a substitute for sleep, nutrition or medical care. Those with dental concerns should consult their dentist about appropriate gum types and frequency (media note: Fox News).
Policy and community norms
Policymakers and business owners can view the review as scientific backing for allowing gum where it causes no harm. Institutions prioritizing cleanliness—restaurants, transit, some schools—may keep restrictions for practical reasons.
Source links
- University of Szczecin review in Brain Sciences (PubMed)
- Fox News coverage
- AOL coverage
- TeacherToolkit on classroom implications
Bottom line: Neuroimaging from the University of Szczecin offers a clear biological explanation for why many people feel calmer and a bit more focused while chewing gum — but effects are modest, short‑lived, and not a replacement for established health or learning strategies (see PubMed).
