Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Chunking01:12

Chunking

Chunking is a powerful cognitive technique that improves short-term memory retention by organizing information into smaller, more manageable units. The brain, limited by working memory capacity, can more easily process and store information when it is divided into "chunks" rather than presented as discrete, unrelated elements. Chunking is especially useful when dealing with large amounts of information, such as numerical sequences, words, or complex ideas.
The principle behind chunking is...
Cognitive Enhancers: Cholinesterase Inhibitors and NMDA Receptor Antagonists01:30

Cognitive Enhancers: Cholinesterase Inhibitors and NMDA Receptor Antagonists

Cognitive enhancers, also known as "smart drugs," are substances used to enhance memory, mental alertness, and concentration. These can be natural or synthetic and improve cognition in conditions like Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative diseases. Some common examples include caffeine, amphetamines, methylphenidate, modafinil, arecoline, donepezil, vortioxetine, and piracetam. These enhancers work on the principle of synaptic plasticity and altered circuit function. They...
Automatic Processing and Automatic Social Behavior01:28

Automatic Processing and Automatic Social Behavior

Automatic processing refers to the cognitive operations that occur without conscious intent or awareness, playing a fundamental role in shaping social cognition and behavior. These processes enable individuals to navigate complex social environments efficiently by relying on mental shortcuts and pre-existing knowledge structures known as schemas. One of the most influential mechanisms underlying automatic processing is priming, which subtly activates mental representations through exposure to...
Working Memory01:24

Working Memory

Working memory refers to a combination of components, including short-term memory and attention, that allow an individual to hold information temporarily as we perform cognitive tasks. It is an essential cognitive function that enables the execution of complex tasks such as problem-solving, comprehension, and reasoning. Unlike short-term memory, which simply involves the storage of information for a brief period, working memory involves the active manipulation and processing of this information.
Information Processing Approach01:30

Information Processing Approach

The information-processing theory of cognitive development centers on fundamental mental processes, including attention, memory, and problem-solving skills. Researchers in this field examine how cognitive abilities, such as working memory, evolve and influence children's overall development. Studies indicate that children with stronger working memory tend to excel in reading comprehension, math, and problem-solving compared to peers with less efficient memory skills. Low working memory is also...
Language and Cognition01:27

Language and Cognition

Language serves as a bridge between ideas and communication, influencing how individuals perceive and interact with the world. Psychologists have long debated whether language shapes thought or vice versa. This discussion gained grip with Edward Sapir and Benjamin Lee Whorf in the 1940s, who proposed that language determines thought, a concept known as linguistic determinism. They suggested that the vocabulary and structure of a language influence how its speakers think and perceive reality.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Before Diagnostic Closure: State-Forming Information in Psychiatric Assessment.

Psychotherapy and psychosomatics·2026
Same author

Identification of autoantibodies against L1CAM in patients with schizophrenia.

Brain, behavior, & immunity - health·2026
Same author

An integrative NLP framework identifies multilevel linguistic phenotypes of schizophrenia across tasks.

Psychological medicine·2026
Same author

Factors Influencing Treatment Dropout Among Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Patients: A Survival Analysis.

Journal of clinical psychology in medical settings·2026
Same author

Striatal DAT-SPECT texture beyond mean binding in major depressive disorder.

Journal of affective disorders·2026
Same author

Grit mediates social success across attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder tendencies.

Acta psychologica·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 14, 2026

Assessing Pupil-linked Changes in Locus Coeruleus-mediated Arousal Elicited by Trigeminal Stimulation
07:26

Assessing Pupil-linked Changes in Locus Coeruleus-mediated Arousal Elicited by Trigeminal Stimulation

Published on: November 26, 2019

Effects of chewing on cognitive processing speed.

Yoshiyuki Hirano1, Takayuki Obata, Hidehiko Takahashi

  • 1Research Program for Carbon Ion Therapy and Diagnostic Imaging Research, Center for Charged Particle Therapy, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, 4-9-1 Anagawa, Inage-ku, Chiba 263-8555, Japan. hirano@nirs.go.jp

Brain and Cognition
|February 5, 2013
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Chewing gum may enhance cognitive performance by increasing alertness and improving motor control, as shown by faster reaction times and increased brain activity in key cognitive regions during attention tasks.

More Related Videos

Concept Development and Use of an Automated Food Intake and Eating Behavior Assessment Method
06:21

Concept Development and Use of an Automated Food Intake and Eating Behavior Assessment Method

Published on: February 19, 2021

The 5-Choice Serial Reaction Time Task: A Task of Attention and Impulse Control for Rodents
09:43

The 5-Choice Serial Reaction Time Task: A Task of Attention and Impulse Control for Rodents

Published on: August 10, 2014

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 14, 2026

Assessing Pupil-linked Changes in Locus Coeruleus-mediated Arousal Elicited by Trigeminal Stimulation
07:26

Assessing Pupil-linked Changes in Locus Coeruleus-mediated Arousal Elicited by Trigeminal Stimulation

Published on: November 26, 2019

Concept Development and Use of an Automated Food Intake and Eating Behavior Assessment Method
06:21

Concept Development and Use of an Automated Food Intake and Eating Behavior Assessment Method

Published on: February 19, 2021

The 5-Choice Serial Reaction Time Task: A Task of Attention and Impulse Control for Rodents
09:43

The 5-Choice Serial Reaction Time Task: A Task of Attention and Impulse Control for Rodents

Published on: August 10, 2014

Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Neuroscience
  • Psychology

Background:

  • Chewing has been anecdotally linked to cognitive maintenance and improvement.
  • Previous research suggests chewing may benefit working memory, but underlying mechanisms remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of chewing on attention and cognitive processing speed.
  • To explore the neural mechanisms associated with chewing-induced cognitive enhancement using fMRI.

Main Methods:

  • Seventeen healthy adults performed the Attentional Network Test (ANT) under fMRI.
  • Participants completed the ANT with and without chewing odorless, tasteless gum.
  • Behavioral data (reaction time) and brain activity (fMRI) were analyzed.

Main Results:

  • Chewing significantly decreased reaction times, indicating faster cognitive processing.
  • fMRI revealed increased activation in the anterior cingulate cortex and left frontal gyrus during chewing.
  • No significant changes were observed in behavioral measures of alerting and conflict effects.

Conclusions:

  • Chewing appears to enhance cognitive performance by increasing arousal and alertness.
  • The findings suggest chewing influences motor control and executive functions.
  • These combined effects may contribute to improved overall cognitive performance.