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/reignfyre]

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/Groomulch → u/BowzersMom]

Chewing on pens likely results in higher levels of plastic in our brains.

[u/HeyLittleTrain → u/Groomulch]

silicone brains?