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/BowzersMom → u/reignfyre]

Pens and pencils are probably the most commonly chewed on item

[u/coldnspicy → u/BowzersMom]

Popsicles sticks? 

[u/jcbevns → u/coldnspicy]

Which is the tongue depressor stick essentially