Confirmed: Chewing Highly Cooling Gum Suppresses Sleepiness in Simulated Autonomous Driving Environments - Joint Research with NeU Corporation, Featuring Ryuta Kawashima
Lotte Co., Ltd. and NeU Corporation conducted joint research proving that chewing highly cooling gum suppresses sleepiness and maintains wakefulness in Level 2 and 3 autonomous driving simulations. The study highlights a practical solution for driver safety.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 23, 2026 at 22:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 23, 2026 at 13:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 23, 2026 at 14:49 (1h 18m after Collected)
Lotte Co., Ltd. (Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, President and Representative Director: Hideki Nakajima, hereinafter Lotte) recently confirmed through joint research with NeU Corporation (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Representative Director and CEO: Yoshihito Nejime), which features Ryuta Kawashima, that "chewing highly cooling gum suppresses sleepiness under conditions simulating autonomous driving." The results of this research were published in the academic journal "Pharmacometrics (Vol. 54, No. 3, 2026)."
■ Research Background
In recent years, autonomous driving technology for automobiles has evolved rapidly. With Level 2 (partial driving automation) which is currently mainstream in Japan, and Level 3 (conditional driving automation) which has begun practical application, there are concerns that drivers become more easily distracted and prone to sleepiness compared to general manual driving. In these levels, it is essential for the driver to maintain a state of wakefulness in preparation for the limits of the system. Therefore, a study was conducted in a test environment simulating autonomous driving to verify whether the consumption of highly cooling gum has the effect of suppressing sleepiness.
■ Research Method
[Subjects] 22 healthy men and women aged 20 to 60 (open randomized crossover comparative study)
[Method] Under conditions simulating Level 2 to Level 3 autonomous driving, subjects chewed highly cooling gum for 25 minutes in the latter half of the driving session, and evaluations were made using a subjective sleepiness questionnaire and autonomic nervous system indicators.
■ Research Results
Under the condition of consuming highly cooling gum, the increase in the score of the driving sleepiness questionnaire (KSS) was suppressed. Regarding the autonomic nervous system indicators, under the gum consumption condition, heart rate increased after the start of chewing, while parasympathetic nerve indicators were maintained, suggesting the possibility that the wakeful state was maintained by chewing highly cooling gum.
Mean ± SE, Significance level *P<0.05: Two-way ANOVA (Simple main effect test: pre/post-driving comparison), Significance level †P<0.05: Two-way ANOVA (Simple main effect test: comparison between consumption conditions)
■ Interview with Ryuta Kawashima of NeU Corporation
Director of NeU Corporation
Professor at the Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University. Promotes the development of technologies and methodologies to realize better living by reading human cognitive and mental states during daily activities. As a pioneer of "Brain Training," he has led enlightenment activities across research and academia-industry collaboration for many years.
・ Dr. Kawashima, you served as the general supervisor for the study design and paper writing of this research. For many years, you have been engaged in research to visualize the "internal state of humans" using multiple physiological indicators. What kind of vision do you have?
The core of my research lies in visualizing human cognition and mental states in daily life to realize a better life. I focus on reading the invisible internal state of humans by combining diverse information such as eyes, autonomic nervous system, and physical activity, not just measuring brain function. My vision is not to confine these measurement technologies to the laboratory, but to return them to everyday places like learning, mental health, and improving social safety, implementing them into society.
・ Please tell us the background behind deciding to conduct joint research with Lotte this time.
What was your impression of Lotte's approach to research?
The catalyst was a consultation from Lotte saying, "We want to scientifically verify how everyday foods affect human wakefulness." I felt that their research approach of trying to comprehensively build up evidence using physiological indicators was highly reliable and aligned with my policy of "social implementation of science," so I accepted.
・ If autonomous driving technology spreads, the burden on drivers should decrease.
In such circumstances, why is "suppressing driver sleepiness" important as a research theme again right now?
Actually, precisely because Level 2 autonomous driving is becoming the center now, the importance of countermeasures against sleepiness is increasing. With the current level of autonomous driving, drivers are still required to be awake and monitor the system. Humans are placed in a situation where "it is more monotonous and boring than manual driving, but you must stay awake." I believe we need to consider realistic approaches to the challenges unique to this transitional period of technology.
・ In a future where autonomous driving becomes widespread and cars become like "moving living rooms,"
what role do you think the "highly cooling gum" studied this time will play?
Even if Level 3 autonomous driving becomes widespread in the slightly nearer future, it is said that humans must be awake to prepare for unforeseen circumstances in the system. From the results of this research, I feel that by combining chewing and a high cooling sensation, we can effectively prevent sleepiness even in environments that easily induce sleep. It can be said to be a handy means to support safety.
・ Finally, when utilizing the technology of autonomous driving,
how should the drivers themselves change?
Technology is merely a tool. Giving everything to the system
■ Research Background
In recent years, autonomous driving technology for automobiles has evolved rapidly. With Level 2 (partial driving automation) which is currently mainstream in Japan, and Level 3 (conditional driving automation) which has begun practical application, there are concerns that drivers become more easily distracted and prone to sleepiness compared to general manual driving. In these levels, it is essential for the driver to maintain a state of wakefulness in preparation for the limits of the system. Therefore, a study was conducted in a test environment simulating autonomous driving to verify whether the consumption of highly cooling gum has the effect of suppressing sleepiness.
■ Research Method
[Subjects] 22 healthy men and women aged 20 to 60 (open randomized crossover comparative study)
[Method] Under conditions simulating Level 2 to Level 3 autonomous driving, subjects chewed highly cooling gum for 25 minutes in the latter half of the driving session, and evaluations were made using a subjective sleepiness questionnaire and autonomic nervous system indicators.
■ Research Results
Under the condition of consuming highly cooling gum, the increase in the score of the driving sleepiness questionnaire (KSS) was suppressed. Regarding the autonomic nervous system indicators, under the gum consumption condition, heart rate increased after the start of chewing, while parasympathetic nerve indicators were maintained, suggesting the possibility that the wakeful state was maintained by chewing highly cooling gum.
Mean ± SE, Significance level *P<0.05: Two-way ANOVA (Simple main effect test: pre/post-driving comparison), Significance level †P<0.05: Two-way ANOVA (Simple main effect test: comparison between consumption conditions)
■ Interview with Ryuta Kawashima of NeU Corporation
Director of NeU Corporation
Professor at the Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University. Promotes the development of technologies and methodologies to realize better living by reading human cognitive and mental states during daily activities. As a pioneer of "Brain Training," he has led enlightenment activities across research and academia-industry collaboration for many years.
・ Dr. Kawashima, you served as the general supervisor for the study design and paper writing of this research. For many years, you have been engaged in research to visualize the "internal state of humans" using multiple physiological indicators. What kind of vision do you have?
The core of my research lies in visualizing human cognition and mental states in daily life to realize a better life. I focus on reading the invisible internal state of humans by combining diverse information such as eyes, autonomic nervous system, and physical activity, not just measuring brain function. My vision is not to confine these measurement technologies to the laboratory, but to return them to everyday places like learning, mental health, and improving social safety, implementing them into society.
・ Please tell us the background behind deciding to conduct joint research with Lotte this time.
What was your impression of Lotte's approach to research?
The catalyst was a consultation from Lotte saying, "We want to scientifically verify how everyday foods affect human wakefulness." I felt that their research approach of trying to comprehensively build up evidence using physiological indicators was highly reliable and aligned with my policy of "social implementation of science," so I accepted.
・ If autonomous driving technology spreads, the burden on drivers should decrease.
In such circumstances, why is "suppressing driver sleepiness" important as a research theme again right now?
Actually, precisely because Level 2 autonomous driving is becoming the center now, the importance of countermeasures against sleepiness is increasing. With the current level of autonomous driving, drivers are still required to be awake and monitor the system. Humans are placed in a situation where "it is more monotonous and boring than manual driving, but you must stay awake." I believe we need to consider realistic approaches to the challenges unique to this transitional period of technology.
・ In a future where autonomous driving becomes widespread and cars become like "moving living rooms,"
what role do you think the "highly cooling gum" studied this time will play?
Even if Level 3 autonomous driving becomes widespread in the slightly nearer future, it is said that humans must be awake to prepare for unforeseen circumstances in the system. From the results of this research, I feel that by combining chewing and a high cooling sensation, we can effectively prevent sleepiness even in environments that easily induce sleep. It can be said to be a handy means to support safety.
・ Finally, when utilizing the technology of autonomous driving,
how should the drivers themselves change?
Technology is merely a tool. Giving everything to the system