title: Effects and after-effects of chewing gum on vigilance, heart rate, EEG and mood.
abstract: Research has shown that chewing gum improves attention, although the mechanism for this effect remains unclear. This study investigated the effects and after-effects of chewing gum on vigilance, mood, heart rate and EEG. Participants completed a vigilance task four times; at baseline, with or without chewing gum, and twice post-chewing. EEG alpha and beta power at left frontal and temporal lobes, subjective mood and heart rate were assessed. Chewing gum shortened reaction time and increased the rate of hits, although hits fell during the second post-chewing task. Chewing gum heightened heart rate, but only during chewing. Gum also increased beta power at F7 and T3 immediately post-chewing, but not following the post-chewing tasks. The findings show that chewing gum affects several different indicators of alertness.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Occupational and Health Psychology, School of Psychology, Cardiff University, 63 Park Place, CF10 3AS, United Kingdom. Electronic address: andrewallen@ucc.ie.
authors.forename: Andrew P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.affiliation: School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Life Sciences Building, Museum Avenue, CF10 3AX, United Kingdom. Electronic address: Jacob@cardiff.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Tim J C
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Jacob
authors.affiliation: Centre for Occupational and Health Psychology, School of Psychology, Cardiff University, 63 Park Place, CF10 3AS, United Kingdom. Electronic address: SmithAP@cardiff.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Andrew P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000502:physiology*; D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology*; D058256:Brain Waves / Q000502:physiology*; D002638:Chewing Gum; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006184:Habits; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008409:Mastication / Q000502:physiology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D011930:Reaction Time; D013997:Time Factors; D064232:Visual Analog Scale; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002638:Chewing Gum
keywords: Chewing gum; EEG; Heart rate; Sustained attention; Vigilance