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Study: Chewing Gum Boosts Brain Power

RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST:

Good morning. I'm Renee Montagne. It's a test of the absolute minimum of what one can do - chew gum and walk at the same time. OK, you smart alecks, turns out chewing gum really can boost brain power. Researchers at St. Lawrence University found a distinct gum advantage in tests taken by chewing and non-chewing students. That effect lasts 20 minutes.

It seems chewing wakes people up, which makes one wonder whether gum should really be banned in schools. It's MORNING EDITION. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

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