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Can chewing gum sharpen your focus?
Chewing gum before an exam is an old tip. There is some research behind it, but the effect is smaller and shorter than the tip suggests.
The study
Researchers at St. Lawrence University in New York gave students a set of cognitive tests. Some chewed gum for five minutes before starting, some chewed during the tests and some didn't chew at all.1
Those who chewed beforehand performed better on several of the tasks. But the advantage only lasted for roughly the first 15 to 20 minutes. Students who chewed all the way through the tests did no better than those who didn't chew.
Why it might work
The authors' explanation is "mastication-induced arousal": chewing briefly raises alertness, a bit like a short warm-up for the brain. Chewing during a task may cancel that out because your brain then has to share attention between chewing and thinking.
What it doesn't mean
- It is a short-term alertness effect, not a lasting boost to intelligence or memory.
- Studies on gum and cognition give mixed results. Effects on alertness show up more consistently than effects on memory.
- Most studies used ordinary gum, not hard training gum.
How to use it
If you want to try it, time your session: a JAWZR round before deep work or a workout, then put the gum away while you focus. It's a handy way to fit your daily training into the day, with a possible small bonus.
Want to train your jaw? JAWZR hard gum comes with a 30-day plan: 8–15 minutes a day, alternating full and light days.
Shop hard gumSources
- Onyper SV, Carr TL, Farrar JS, Floyd BR. Cognitive advantages of chewing gum. Now you see them, now you don't. Appetite 2011;57(2):321–328.
This article is general information, not medical or dental advice. If you have jaw, joint or dental problems, ask a dentist before training your jaw.
