Taking a big breath in when trying to remember could be a simple way to boost recall, scientists believe, after finding that inhaling stimulates the brain.

US researchers discovered that the rhythm of breath creates electrical activity in the brain where emotions, memory and smells are processed.

In experiments, individuals were able to identify a face two seconds more quickly if they encountered it when breathing in compared to breathing out.

They were also more likely to remember an object if they encountered it on the inhaled breath, rather than the exhaled one.

But the effect disappeared if breathing was through the mouth.