The Neural Correlates of Chewing Gum—A Neuroimaging Review of Its Effects on Brain Activity
Introduction: Chewing gum is a widespread, seemingly mundane behaviour that has been linked to diverse benefits such as improved cognitive performance, reduced stress, and enhanced alertness. While animal and human research indicate that mastication engages extensive sensorimotor networks and may al...
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2025-06-01
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| author | James Chmiel Agnieszka Malinowska |
| author_facet | James Chmiel Agnieszka Malinowska |
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| description | Introduction: Chewing gum is a widespread, seemingly mundane behaviour that has been linked to diverse benefits such as improved cognitive performance, reduced stress, and enhanced alertness. While animal and human research indicate that mastication engages extensive sensorimotor networks and may also modulate higher-order cognitive and emotional processes, questions remain about the specific neural mechanisms involved. This review combines findings from neuroimaging studies—including fMRI, fNIRS, and EEG—that investigate how chewing gum alters brain activity in humans. Methods: Using a targeted search strategy, we screened the major databases (PubMed/Medline, Scopus, ResearchGate, Google Scholar, and Cochrane) from January 1980 to March 2025 for clinical studies published in English. Eligible studies explicitly measured brain activity during gum chewing using EEG, fNIRS, or fMRI. Results: After a title/abstract screening and a full-text review, thirty-two studies met the inclusion criteria for this review: 15 utilising fMRI, 10 using fNIRS, 2 using both fNIRS and EEG, and 5 employing EEG. Overall, the fMRI investigations consistently reported strong activation in bilateral motor and somatosensory cortices, the supplementary motor area, the insula, the cerebellum, and the thalamus, during gum chewing, with several studies also noting involvement of higher-order prefrontal and cingulate regions, particularly under stress conditions or when participants chewed flavoured gum. The fNIRS findings indicated that chewing gum increased oxygenated haemoglobin in the prefrontal cortex, reflecting heightened cortical blood flow; these effects were often amplified when the gum was flavoured or when participants were exposed to stressful stimuli, suggesting that both sensory and emotional variables can influence chewing-related cortical responses. Finally, the EEG studies documented transient increases in alpha and beta wave power during gum chewing, particularly when flavoured gum was used, and reported short-lived enhancements in vigilance or alertness, which tended to subside soon after participants ceased chewing. Conclusions: Neuroimaging data indicate that chewing gum reliably engages broad sensorimotor circuits while also influencing regions tied to attention, stress regulation, and possibly memory. Although these effects are often short-lived, the range of outcomes—from changes in cortical oxygenation to shifts in EEG power—underscores chewing gum’s capacity to modulate brain function beyond simple oral motor control. However, at this time, the neural changes associated with gum chewing cannot be directly linked to the positive behavioural and functional outcomes observed in studies that measure these effects without the use of neuroimaging techniques. Future research should address longer-term impacts, refine methods to isolate flavour or stress variables, and explore potential therapeutic applications for mastication-based interventions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3bdfa02e5779482fa3737dca780a4d45 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-3425 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
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| series | Brain Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-3bdfa02e5779482fa3737dca780a4d452025-08-20T03:26:10ZengMDPI AGBrain Sciences2076-34252025-06-0115665710.3390/brainsci15060657The Neural Correlates of Chewing Gum—A Neuroimaging Review of Its Effects on Brain ActivityJames Chmiel0Agnieszka Malinowska1Institute of Physical Culture Sciences, Faculty of Physical Culture and Health, University of Szczecin, Al. Piastów 40B Block 6, 71-065 Szczecin, PolandInstitute of Psychology, University of Szczecin, 71-017 Szczecin, PolandIntroduction: Chewing gum is a widespread, seemingly mundane behaviour that has been linked to diverse benefits such as improved cognitive performance, reduced stress, and enhanced alertness. While animal and human research indicate that mastication engages extensive sensorimotor networks and may also modulate higher-order cognitive and emotional processes, questions remain about the specific neural mechanisms involved. This review combines findings from neuroimaging studies—including fMRI, fNIRS, and EEG—that investigate how chewing gum alters brain activity in humans. Methods: Using a targeted search strategy, we screened the major databases (PubMed/Medline, Scopus, ResearchGate, Google Scholar, and Cochrane) from January 1980 to March 2025 for clinical studies published in English. Eligible studies explicitly measured brain activity during gum chewing using EEG, fNIRS, or fMRI. Results: After a title/abstract screening and a full-text review, thirty-two studies met the inclusion criteria for this review: 15 utilising fMRI, 10 using fNIRS, 2 using both fNIRS and EEG, and 5 employing EEG. Overall, the fMRI investigations consistently reported strong activation in bilateral motor and somatosensory cortices, the supplementary motor area, the insula, the cerebellum, and the thalamus, during gum chewing, with several studies also noting involvement of higher-order prefrontal and cingulate regions, particularly under stress conditions or when participants chewed flavoured gum. The fNIRS findings indicated that chewing gum increased oxygenated haemoglobin in the prefrontal cortex, reflecting heightened cortical blood flow; these effects were often amplified when the gum was flavoured or when participants were exposed to stressful stimuli, suggesting that both sensory and emotional variables can influence chewing-related cortical responses. Finally, the EEG studies documented transient increases in alpha and beta wave power during gum chewing, particularly when flavoured gum was used, and reported short-lived enhancements in vigilance or alertness, which tended to subside soon after participants ceased chewing. Conclusions: Neuroimaging data indicate that chewing gum reliably engages broad sensorimotor circuits while also influencing regions tied to attention, stress regulation, and possibly memory. Although these effects are often short-lived, the range of outcomes—from changes in cortical oxygenation to shifts in EEG power—underscores chewing gum’s capacity to modulate brain function beyond simple oral motor control. However, at this time, the neural changes associated with gum chewing cannot be directly linked to the positive behavioural and functional outcomes observed in studies that measure these effects without the use of neuroimaging techniques. Future research should address longer-term impacts, refine methods to isolate flavour or stress variables, and explore potential therapeutic applications for mastication-based interventions.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/15/6/657chewing gumgum chewingchewingEEGelectroencephalographyelectroencephalogram |
| spellingShingle | James Chmiel Agnieszka Malinowska The Neural Correlates of Chewing Gum—A Neuroimaging Review of Its Effects on Brain Activity Brain Sciences chewing gum gum chewing chewing EEG electroencephalography electroencephalogram |
| title | The Neural Correlates of Chewing Gum—A Neuroimaging Review of Its Effects on Brain Activity |
| title_full | The Neural Correlates of Chewing Gum—A Neuroimaging Review of Its Effects on Brain Activity |
| title_fullStr | The Neural Correlates of Chewing Gum—A Neuroimaging Review of Its Effects on Brain Activity |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Neural Correlates of Chewing Gum—A Neuroimaging Review of Its Effects on Brain Activity |
| title_short | The Neural Correlates of Chewing Gum—A Neuroimaging Review of Its Effects on Brain Activity |
| title_sort | neural correlates of chewing gum a neuroimaging review of its effects on brain activity |
| topic | chewing gum gum chewing chewing EEG electroencephalography electroencephalogram |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/15/6/657 |
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