What do you usually use to improve concentration? Generally people consume coffee, herbal supplements such as ginkgo biloba, meditation, or sleep to help them improve concentration. But now there is a new way that is quite unique, and relatively easy. Chew gum!
The study by experts from the University of Cardiff shows, chewing gum can be used as an alternative to improve concentration, especially when working on a task that is constant, and for a long time.
"Previous studies have shown that chewing gum in one's cognitive benefits. In this study, we focused on tasks involving auditory short-term memory," said Kate Morgan, lead author of the study published in the British Journal of Psychology.
The researchers divided 38 participants into two groups. The first group is allowed to chew gum and the other group did not. For half an hour, read aloud the numbers 1 through 9. The participants were asked to note if there is a combination of numbers, such as 5-8-1.
The participants who did not chew gum launch test better than those who do not. Interestingly, the researchers found that subsequent participants who chewed gum to end the test with a more accurate answer, and faster response.
"Interestingly, participants who did not chew gum though better in the beginning of the test, but at the end of the test it was defeated by the participants who chewed gum," Morgan said in a news release.
"It shows that chewing gum can help to focus on the task that lasts for a long time," he concluded.