Effects of three principal constituents in chewing gum on electroencephalographic activity

The effects of three principal constituents (sugar, spearmint, and gumbase) in chewing gum on EEG findings in 20 normal subjects were investigated. Af ter they chewed the gumbase, theta activity decreased significantly at Fp2, O1, T3, T4, F4, P3, and Pt; alpha activity increased significantly at O1 a nd decreased significantly at Fp1, and beta activity increased significantl y at Fp1, Fp2, O1, T3, T4, P3 and Pt. After they inhaled the spearmint, alp ha activity decreased significantly at O2, F3, P4, and Fz, and beta increas ed significantly at O2, F3, P4, and Fz. The mean frequency of the alpha ban d was significantly higher than after 1 min at rest without inhalation. Aft er the subjects chewed the gumbase with sucrose, theta activity increased a t Fp2 and Fz; alpha activity increased significantly at T3; and beta activi ty decreased significantly at Fp1, Fp2, F4, P3, P4, Fz, and Pz. The mean fr equency of the alpha band was significantly lower than after 1 min at rest without it at almost all the positions. These results suggest that the gumb ase with sucrose induced relaxed concentration effects while inhalation of spearmint induced arousal effects. The chewing of gumbase showed arousal te ndency.