The whole thing sounds pretty flawed (the doctor's take on it, not necessarily the study itself). First, he doesn't say how much the results varied between chewing and not. Second, it seems that concentration or focus could be what is effected, not memory. Keep in mind, also, that they were testing short-term effects, not long-term. I guess I would think twice about chewing gum in class, though, if I wanted to retain it (rather than relying on notes, for example).

Just sayin'.

Michael Siskin