Have you ever been chomping away on some Extra or Trident gum and felt smarter than usual? That may not just be your imagination. Recent studies have shown evidence that chewing gum could have mental health benefits. The next time you have a big test in a difficult class, you should think about choosing this chewy treat.
According to Yahoo.com, a study was originally conducted at St. Lawrence University in New York that tested the health effects of chewing gum. The study concluded that test-takers, who chewed gum for five minutes before the test, out-performed those who did not. Although the increase in intelligence was brief as it only lasted for the first 20 minutes of the test. However, a separate study conducted by Baylor College of Medicine found that 8th graders who chewed gum while taking their math tests and did their math homework saw a 3percent jump in their overall grades.
A third study, conducted at Cardiff University in the UK, took 133 volunteers and gave them intense mental tests. Half of the volunteers were tested under the most stressful conditions; they were forced to test next to stress inducing noise. The other half took their tests in a quiet room. The studiers tested the volunteer’s heart rates and cortisone levels. The scientists concluded that chewing gum increased the volunteer’s alertness and reaction times to the test. Overall, chewing gum improved the test taker’s performance and even put the volunteer in a better mood (yahoo.com).
Chewing gum in class is permissible here at Monroe High. English Teacher, Scott McCloskey, said that he does allow chewing gum in his class room but “I don’t think I would suggest students chew gum before tests… There are all sorts of superstitious/scientific things like that, that are said to increase testing ability,” eluding to the fact that they are not true.