Would you believe that while standing in line to pay for your groceries, you are but an arm’s length away from a potent neurochemical catalyst that costs less than a single pill of any antidepressant?
Yes, gum – wonderful, flavorful, get-your-jaws-moving gum — is an unlikely object of cognitive science research that turns out to possess qualities Mr. Wrigley would never have guessed.
Gum has been studied for its beneficial effects on memory, alertness, anxiety reduction, appetite suppression, mood and learning. Attributes of gum that have gone under the microscope include its flavor, texture and density, to name a few.