Chewing different materials affects the brain and a new study found that chewing on wood (wooden tongue depressors), compared to chewing gum, led to a significant increase in a natural brain antioxidant called glutathione, and better performance on memory tasks.

[u/mvea]

https://www.psypost.org/chewing-wood-may-boost-memory-and-brain-antioxidants-study-finds/

[u/Tanukifan]

Their conclusion was:

Chewing moderately hard material elevates brain antioxidant levels such as GSH, potentially influencing cognitive function.

So its not specifically wood that gives the effect, even if they tested it with wood.

[u/reignfyre → u/Tanukifan]

I'm wondering if just chewing on something unusual/novel is what led to the response in the brain. I would assume most people in the study have chewed gum but not "wood." Why not choose a commonly chewed on hard item?

[u/Mylaptopisburningme → u/[deleted]]

Wood and paper 2 things I hate in my mouth (Well a third but won't mention it.) I hate the stick from a popcicle or corn dog, it's like teeth on the chalk board. And I was never able to do spit balls since the paper would make me gag.

[u/unclepaprika → u/Mylaptopisburningme]

Great... Now i'm stuck trying to imagine how one would go about to sink their teeth into a chalkboard, and how utterly dumb that would look.

Thanks a bunch!