Keeping quiet is the best way to pull

According to new research, the best way to win a woman's heart is simply to keep quiet - and let her do most of the talking.

In fact, simply making appreciative noises to show your date you are listening and interested in what she is saying will make you far more attractive.

Phillip Hodson, a fellow of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, said: "Men are very concerned with the performance but are not actually paying attention to the end result.

"A good salesman does not just memorise huge amounts of information and waffle away because people will nod away but not actually take it in.

"A real salesman says, 'What do you want?' and listens and these are the subtle skills of emotional literacy that many men who try to impress women by talking lack."

The findings come from a study conducted by the Massachussetts Institute of Technology.

Lead researcher Professor Sandy Pentland said the key for a man to impress a woman is in the 'verbal body language'.

This refers to a number of factors such as how long each person spends talking, how the pitch and volume of their voices varies, how often they interrupt each other, and their use of words encouraging the other person to continue speaking.

A monotone voice is the equivalent of crossing your arms, which indicates a defensive attitude, but letting the other person speak is more akin to fiddling with your hair, which is said to be a positive sign of attraction.

The researchers analysed nearly 60 conversations during speed-dates, in which potential couples are given only a few minutes to get to know each other and decide whether to meet again.

One important factor was the number of times a man made an interjection lasting less than a second - such as 'OK' and 'I see'.

Some men used such words only five times in five minutes, while others used them 30 times - and women were far more likely to feel attracted to those who used them most frequently.