Does Chewing Gum Help

You Concentrate?
Number of Correct Problems

Without Gum

With Gum

100

75

50

25

Without Gum

With Gum

We think that chewing gum can help

your speed and accuracy inperforming simple cognitive tasksbecause
it increases blood flow to the brain.

Chewing gum
Pencils for test-taking
Timer
Test subjects
Paper and pencil for recording and analyzing data
Math Worksheets
Desk Screens/Dividers

1
2

Make sure no allergies or sensitivities to chewing gum

May not be appropriate forparticipantswith braces.

Classroom Space with Desks for eachtestparticipant

1
2
3
4
5

Distribute 2 simple math worksheets to each

participant.(trial #1)
Have eachparticipantcomplete as many math problems as
possible in one minute, without chewing gum.
Each participant will turn over their completed math sheets
after the 1 minute timer expires.
Distribute 1 piece of chewing gum to each participant.
Distribute 2 simple math worksheets to each participant.(trial #2)

6
7
8
9

Have eachparticipantcomplete as many math problems as

possible in one minute, while chewing gum.
Presenters will readaloudanswer key, while participants
will correct their worksheets.
Presenters will record number of correct problems.
Analyze each test group's speed and accuracy on each of
the worksheets.

Psychologists say, the chewing gum can help in improving memory and enhance cognitive (learning and thinking skills) powers.
They found that people who chewed throughout tests produced
significantly better scores than people who did not. There are a
number of reasons for this.
The act of continuous chewing or moving of our jaw actually improves our memory. The activity in the area of our brain that is
important for memory (the hippocampus) increases while people
chew. Some research shows that receptors in the hippocampus
may be involved in memory. Chewing gum increases the glucose
(sugar) level which is body-and-mind fuel.
Chewing gum increases blood flow to the brain. Increased heart
rate improves oxygen delivery to the brain which can enhance
our cognitive powers. Some studies have reported that blood
flow to the brain increases by as much as 25 percent to 40 percent during gum chewing. Also the act of chewing speeds up our
heartbeat and blood pressure just enough to wake up both leftand right hemispheres (sides) to work together.

The left brain is the logical brain responsible for words, logic,
numbers, analysis, lists, linearity and sequence. It controls the
right side of your body.
The right brain is the creative brain and is responsible for rhythm, spatial awareness, color, imagination, daydreaming, holistic awareness and dimension. It controls the left side of your
body.
Chewing gum produces more oxygen, more glucose andincreases the removal of carbon dioxide. This is why chewing gum improves memory.

In conclusion, our hypothesis was correct. We were correct because our speed and accuracy in completing simple math problems improved after chewing gum. From this experiment, we
learned that gum chewing should be allowed in school to improve our grades!