A study sponsored by the Wrigley Science Institute was conducted by researchers at Baylor College of Medicine, and presented at the Annual Meeting of Experimental Biology 2009 in New Orleans.
A hundred and eight students ages 13 – 16 were assigned to either chew sugar-free gum during math class, while doing math homework and during math tests or not to chew gum at all. After 14 weeks, the students’ took a graded math test.
Those who chewed gum had a 3% increase in standardized math test scores along with final math grades that were statistically better than the bubble free kids. Those who chewed gum seemed to require fewer breaks, sustain attention longer and remain quieter.
The study was presented at the Annual Meeting of Experimental Biology 2009 today in New Orleans.