Chew on this: Study shows gum makes your brain better at doing stuff

Parents and teachers may have to rethink their stance on gum control, with scientists reporting that chewing gum improves alertness by up to 10 percent. Research out of Japan's National Institute of Radiological Sciences published in the journal Brain and Cognition, showed chewing gets certain areas of the brain firing faster, possibly due to increased blood flow. The test subjects chewing gum took 493 milliseconds to react, while those didn't took an average 545. "The effects of chewing on reaction time are profound," said an expert, without explaining the cognitive impairment at play in those who jam used wads of it under their seat. [Source]

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