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/geekpeeps]

Interesting. Infant behaviour to mouth and chew might have other purposes than teething (although that’s definitely a thing), but if it enhances or accelerates learning and memory, that would be reasonable.

It also explains children still chewing pens or ice block sticks or grass stems… boredom and cause it’s there is usually the reason, but a useful outcome could be possible. Fascinating.

[u/PlutoniumSmile → u/geekpeeps]

Children?! I still chew pens