Chewing ameliorates stress-induced suppression of spatial memory by increasing glucocorticoid receptor expression in the hippocampus

► We aimed to elucidate whether chewing improved the functioning of stress-induced memory impairment. ► The immobilization stress impaired performance in the water maze test and decreased hippocampal glucocorticod receptor. ► The chewing during immobilization stress improved the stress-induced impairement of special memory. ► The chewing during immobilization stress also increased hippocampal gulucocorticoid receptor. ► The immunohistchemical finding correlated with the performance in the water maze test.