Chewing Gum May Sharply, If Briefly, Boost Focus and Ease Stress — Brain Imaging Review Explains How
A peer-reviewed neuroimaging review from the University of Szczecin found that chewing gum briefly activates attention and stress-regulation networks, producing short-lived EEG signatures described as ‘relaxed concentration’ and modestly improving focus during mild stress.
Key takeaways
- Neural evidence: The review synthesizes 32 human neuroimaging studies showing chewing activates motor-sensory and some attention/stress-regulation areas.
- Brain signals: EEG shows short-lived increases in alpha and beta power consistent with transient relaxed concentration.
- Practical limits: Effects are modest and fleeting — useful for short, boring or mildly stressful tasks but not a treatment for major anxiety or long-term cognitive enhancement.
Main content
What the review looked at
Researchers at the University of Szczecin searched major databases (PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Google Scholar, Cochrane) for human neuroimaging studies measuring brain activity during gum chewing. The team included studies published from 1980 through March 2025 and counted 32 studies in total — 15 fMRI, 10 fNIRS, five EEG-only, and two combining fNIRS with EEG — summarized in the review.
Chewing engages chewing networks — and more
Across fMRI studies, gum chewing reliably activated classic mastication circuitry: bilateral primary motor cortex (jaw/face control), primary somatosensory cortex (oral touch), supplementary motor area (rhythm), the insula (taste/interoception), cerebellum (timing), and thalamus (sensory relay). In short, chewing is not a trivial reflex — it recruits broad, bilateral motor-sensory circuits.
Beyond motor areas: several imaging studies reported activity in prefrontal and cingulate regions tied to attention, working memory, conflict monitoring and emotion regulation — especially with flavored gum or mild stress.
fNIRS: blood flow in the prefrontal cortex rises
Near-infrared spectroscopy studies found chewing increased oxygenated hemoglobin in the prefrontal cortex, implying temporary rises in cortical blood flow to attention/control areas. These fNIRS responses were larger when gum was flavored and when participants faced stressors, indicating sensory pleasure and emotional context can amplify the response (review).
Relaxed concentration EEG: short-lived brain-wave shifts
EEG studies showed brief increases in alpha and beta power while chewing. Beta is often linked to alertness; alpha is associated with calm, focused states. Media descriptions adopted the phrase “Relaxed Concentration EEG” to capture the combined pattern: a mix of heightened alertness and calm focus. The review emphasizes these EEG changes are transient and usually fade shortly after chewing stops (review).
How chewing ties to focus and stress relief
Behavioral studies previously reported slight attention improvements and small reductions in self-reported stress during boring or mildly stressful tasks. The imaging results provide a plausible mechanism: chewing activates prefrontal and cingulate regions and increases prefrontal blood flow, which could transiently support vigilance or calm focus (review).
Limits, mixed findings and when gum does not help
Important cautions: Neural activation alone does not guarantee reliable behavioral or clinical benefits. Across studies, chewing did not consistently improve memory for word lists or narratives, and attention benefits typically ended when chewing stopped. Chewing also did not reliably reduce anxiety in very high-stress settings (for example, pre-surgery). Effects appear context-dependent: mild stress and flavored gum amplify effects; severe stress and unsolvable tasks do not (review).
Flavor, fidgeting and practical notes
Flavor matters: flavored gum produced larger fNIRS and EEG responses than unflavored gum, suggesting sensory pleasure or novelty contributes to the brain response. Commentators have proposed a fidgeting hypothesis — gum functions as a small motor outlet (like a stress ball) that helps modulate arousal and attention (review).
Authors’ caution and next steps for science
The Szczecin team calls for better-designed trials to link neural changes to clear behavioral benefits. Methodological heterogeneity — gum type (flavor, sugar), task type, stress level and imaging methods — limits causal conclusions. Future research should test longer interventions, disentangle flavor vs. motor effects, and explore therapeutic potential in ADHD or age-related attention decline (review).
Coverage and context in other outlets
Mainstream summaries emphasized the practical, limited message: chewing gum can give a small, temporary edge in attention and mild stress relief but is not a magic solution. Examples include coverage by Fox News, AOL, and classroom commentary such as TeacherToolkit.
Sources and further reading
- University of Szczecin review, Brain Sciences (18 June 2025)
- Fox News summary
- AOL coverage
- TeacherToolkit classroom commentary
- Additional media and commentary cited in the review (Gale)
Implications for the Inland Empire
Daily life and work: Many Inland Empire residents work long, repetitive shifts in logistics, warehouses and retail. Chewing gum could offer a small, short-term boost in alertness and modest chewing gum stress relief during long or boring tasks — best used as a short-break strategy rather than a substitute for rest (review).
Students and classrooms: Local students practicing for tests or presentations might find gum helpful during practice sessions. Schools should weigh hygiene and district rules; evidence suggests benefits are modest and context-dependent, with flavored gum showing stronger effects (review; TeacherToolkit).
Health and safety settings: For medical or very high-stress scenarios — for instance hospital waiting rooms in Riverside or San Bernardino counties — chewing gum should not be considered a clinical anxiety treatment; the review found no consistent benefit in very high-stress settings (review).
Employers and policies: Employers open to minor accommodations might allow gum during repetitive or low-risk tasks to support alertness, accounting for safety, customer-facing roles and any union agreements.
Practical tips: If trying gum for focus, choose flavored gum, limit use to short periods, avoid over-reliance, and combine with breaks, hydration, movement and sleep. The imaging suggests chewing can produce transient Relaxed Concentration EEG effects, but lasting improvements require broader habits (review).
Want the study-by-study table?
If you would like a study-by-study table of the 32 included papers — listing methods, sample sizes and main outcomes — I can extract that from the Brain Sciences review and format it for publication.
