Chewing gum briefly boosts attention, alertness and mild stress regulation, Szczecin review finds
A 2025 neuroimaging review from the University of Szczecin finds that chewing gum briefly engages attention, alertness and stress‑regulation networks, producing short bouts of “relaxed concentration,” though brain changes rarely translate into lasting cognitive or clinical benefits.
Key takeaways
- Neuroimaging evidence: 32 human brain studies (fMRI, fNIRS, EEG) show chewing activates sensorimotor circuits and often higher‑order attention/emotion regions.
- EEG signature: Transient rises in alpha and beta power during chewing — a pattern linked to relaxed alertness — which fade after chewing stops.
- Stress and behavior: Gum can lower self‑reported anxiety in mild lab stressors and raise prefrontal blood flow, but it does not reliably reduce high clinical anxiety or produce lasting performance gains.
- Practical use: Short, context‑dependent tool for brief focus or mild stress relief; not a substitute for sleep, breaks, or clinical care.
What the researchers did
The review — titled “The Neural Correlates of Chewing Gum – A Neuroimaging Review of Its Effects on Brain Activity” — screened major databases for human imaging studies from 1980 through March 2025. The team included 32 studies that recorded brain signals while participants chewed, focusing on fMRI, fNIRS and EEG.
Included studies comprised 15 fMRI, 10 fNIRS, 2 combined fNIRS+EEG and 5 EEG reports. Methods varied widely — chew time, flavor, task demands and sample sizes differed — which the authors flagged as a major limitation for cross‑study comparisons (see the full paper).
How chewing maps onto the brain
Sensorimotor circuits
Unsurprisingly, chewing consistently activated canonical motor and sensory areas for oral control. Across fMRI studies the review reports reliable responses in:
- Bilateral primary motor cortex (jaw control)
- Primary somatosensory cortex (oral sensation)
- Supplementary motor area (SMA)
- Insula (taste and interoception)
- Cerebellum (movement timing)
- Thalamus (sensory relay)
These activations reflect the physical act of chewing, but they do not fully capture the whole story.
Attention and control regions
Several studies — especially those using flavored gum or introducing mild stressors — reported additional activation in higher‑order regions, including parts of the prefrontal cortex and the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). These areas are implicated in executive control, sustained attention and emotional regulation. The authors conclude chewing gum “influences regions tied to attention, stress regulation, and possibly memory,” while cautioning that neural changes do not prove robust behavioral benefits.
EEG: relaxed concentration during chewing
EEG studies commonly found transient increases in alpha and beta power while participants chewed. Alpha increases are often associated with a relaxed, wakeful state; beta with active alertness and focus. Together, the pattern has been described as a state of “relaxed concentration.” Importantly, these changes were short‑lived and generally dissipated shortly after chewing stopped.
Stress relief: when chewing helps and when it does not
In many lab tasks that model everyday stress (e.g., public speaking simulations, mental arithmetic), chewers reported lower anxiety compared with non‑chewers. fNIRS studies also detected increased oxygenated blood flow in prefrontal regions during chewing, particularly under stress or with flavored gum.
Summary: chewing may ease mild, everyday stress but it is not a reliable intervention for high‑stakes medical anxiety (for example, pre‑surgery settings) where effects were inconsistent.
fNIRS and blood flow
Across the ten fNIRS studies included, chewing tended to raise oxygenated hemoglobin levels in the prefrontal cortex, supporting the idea that chewing can influence cortical blood flow in networks tied to planning and attention. These hemodynamic effects were often stronger with flavored gum or in stressful tasks.
Memory and measurable performance
Despite imaging signals in attention‑related regions, behavioral effects were small and inconsistent. Some studies reported brief improvements in vigilance or alertness while chewing; others found no reliable memory advantage for chewers. The authors emphasize that current imaging data cannot establish causation between neural activations and lasting performance gains.
Limitations highlighted by the authors
- Heterogeneous methods: varied gum types, flavors, chewing rates and tasks make comparisons difficult.
- Small samples: many imaging studies had limited participant numbers.
- Confounds: flavor, expectations and baseline stress may influence results.
- Unknown long‑term effects: little data on chronic or repeated chewing impacts.
The authors call for longer studies, designs that isolate flavor and stress, and clinical trials before proposing therapeutic uses.
Media coverage and implications for the United States
How journalists and readers covered it
Press coverage emphasized activation of higher‑order brain regions and brief EEG changes linked to alertness and relaxed concentration, while also noting the limited and transient behavioral benefits. Representative summaries appeared on Fox News and AOL.
Economic and political considerations
Economic: Chewing gum is a modest consumer market; findings are unlikely to drive major economic shifts, though sellers or wellness brands may highlight short‑term alertness claims — with the caveat that effects are brief and context dependent.
Political / policy: The research does not mandate policy change, but it could reopen debates where gum bans exist (schools, workplaces). Policymakers should weigh hygiene and discipline concerns against modest short‑term benefits.
Social effects, classroom and workplace practice
For busy Americans, chewing gum may be a low‑cost option for short focus boosts or mild stress relief during routine tasks. Employers and educators who permit gum should set clear rules for disposal and etiquette. The evidence supports only transient gains; gum is not a substitute for rest, sleep, or structured training.
Medical and therapeutic use
The review does not support recommending chewing gum as a treatment for severe anxiety or clinical stress. While it may help in everyday, mild stressors, chewing should not replace clinical care. The authors recommend rigorous trials before any therapeutic claims.
Practical takeaways
- Chewing gum can produce short bursts of alertness and a state researchers describe as relaxed concentration, especially when flavored.
- Effects are transient and typically fade shortly after chewing stops — do not expect long‑lasting improvements.
- Gum may ease mild, everyday stress but is unreliable in high‑stakes clinical situations.
- Use gum as a small, personal tool for brief focus or stress relief — while observing hygiene and social rules.
Sources and further reading
For readers who want the scientific review, see the full paper. Press summaries and teaching notes are available at Fox News, AOL, and an educator’s practical summary at TeacherToolkit. A brief academic note is archived at Gale.
Primary review source: University of Szczecin neuroimaging review (PubMed).
