Want to boost your memory? Sniff rosemary By Louise Atkinson We've all mislaid our keys or got into a panic over where we've put our phone. But forgetting small things doesn't mean you're going doolally. The authors of The New IQ say it's not short-term, but long-term "working" memory - which means you can retain the print of your curtains or your mother's perfume scent - that is fundamental to well-being. And you can improve it. Here's how . . . Sniff rosemary: The herb has been shown to improve working memory because it appears to have an arousing effect on a brain chemical called acetylcholine, which plays a key role in maintaining attention Do a doodle If you have to sit through a long meeting or lecture, no matter how important it is, a weak working memory will switch off. But scribbling as you listen can stop your working memory drifting, without competing for precious memory resources. Be a page turner Reading is a deceptively good workout because you have to flex your memory muscles to recall information from previous pages and chapters, anticipate information that may or may not come, and interpret words, sentences and ideas as you go along. Increase the benefit by continually challenging yourself with new books, authors and styles. Cook without looking Read a recipe, close the book, and try to cook the dish without flicking back at it. This forces you to keep the ingredients and steps in your mind, while simultaneously enacting them. It is classic multi-tasking and it's very good for your working memory. Do a doodle: If you have to sit through a long meeting or lecture, scribbling as you listen can stop your working memory drifting, without competing for precious memory resources The herb has been shown, in trials, to improve working memory because it appears to have an arousing effect on a brain chemical called acetylcholine, which plays a key role in maintaining attention. Pick a bunch from the garden or dab a little rosemary oil on a tissue. Check Facebook Social media is often given short shrift, yet studies show Facebook - used in moderation - can enhance working memory. Scientists believe this is because when you check a status update, you have to use your working memory to delete prior information you held about that person, and replace it with new data. Extracted from The New IQ: Use Your Working Memory to Think Stronger, Smarter, Faster by Tracy Alloway and Ross Alloway, published by HarperCollins