At a recent St Dominic’s Academy (Newcastle) Science Expo, I came across an interesting science experiment conducted by one of the school’s pupils, Dylan Van Der Merwe.
The experiment set out to test whether chewing a specific flavour of chewing gum would increase memory (and performance on a test) if you chewed the same flavour of chewing gum when studying and during the test.
The results of the budding scientist’s experiment suggest, yes. And the science behind this is very interesting. When you chew gum you stimulate a specific sensory experience, and this is noted by the brain.
When you couple this experience with other experiences or information (something that you are studying), the brain makes an association between the sensory experience and what you are learning.
It stands to reason that the more you do this, the stronger the association will become. Then when you re-experience the sense (taste or smell) you remember the associations.
Dylan’s experiment showed that the hippocampus (a part of the brain) is more than likely responsible for this memory formation.
