The phases of breathing coordinate memory processes in the brain

In the experiment, 18 participants studied pairs of 120 images and related words. Later, they were asked to recall these associations and then try again after a two-hour nap. Throughout the process, the researchers recorded the respiratory rhythm and brain activity using EEG to track how physiological and neural processes synchronize during memories.

The results showed that participants remembered words and related pictures better when the reminder prompt was given during or just before inhaling. At the same time, the EEG data indicate that the very restoration of memory in the brain occurred more often during exhalation. Scientists talk about a kind of separation of functions: inhaling creates the optimal moment for receiving a signal, and exhaling creates the optimal moment for memory reconstruction. Thus, the respiratory rhythm sets a temporal structure for the perception and reproduction of information.

Two characteristic features of successful recall were found in brain activity. The first is a decrease in the activity of the alpha and beta ranges, which is usually associated with concentration and memory activation. The second is the reactivation of the same neural patterns that were involved in the initial learning, that is, the brain repeatedly recalled what it had learned.

During the experiment, the participants breathed naturally, without specifically controlling the rhythm. The researchers suggest that future work with intentional breath control will help to understand whether such mechanisms can be used in everyday life, for example, when preparing for exams or during training. In addition, it is necessary to study how breathing affects older memories.

Significant individual differences have also been identified: in some people, memory processes are more synchronized with the respiratory rhythm, which may explain differences in memory ability.