Respiration shapes the neural dynamics of successful remembering in humans.

Respiration has been shown to impact memory retrieval, yet the neural dynamics underlying this effect remain unclear. Here, we investigated how respiration shapes both behavioral and neural expressions of memory retrieval by re-analyzing an existing dataset where scalp electroencephalography and respiration recordings were acquired while participants (N = 18, 15 females) performed an episodic memory task. Our results unveil that respiration influences retrieval-related power fluctuations in the ⍺/β band and concomitant memory reactivation. Specifically, we found that both key neural signatures of successful remembering were co-modulated during exhalation, with the strength of the interaction between respiration and reactivation processes being associated with memory performance. Together, these findings suggest that respiration may act as a scaffold for episodic memory retrieval in humans by coordinating the neural conditions that support effective remembering. Significance statement Recent evidence suggests that respiration may shape neural dynamics underlying various cognitive processes. In this study, we identify respiration as a potential pacemaker for memory retrieval by showing that key neural signatures of effective remembering—namely, decreases in ⍺/β power and the reactivation of previously encoded neural representations—are tightly synchronized with the respiratory cycle. Notably, the strength of this respiration-brain coupling is associated with individual memory performance, underscoring the critical role and functional significance of brain–body interactions in supporting cognitive functions.