Saying sorry isn’t always enough to earn forgiveness but you have more chance of getting your message across if you speak into someone’s right ear, research indicates.

Scientists found that when we are angry, the right ear becomes more receptive to sound than the left.

The discovery has led to the theory that by targeting the right ear, the penitent are more likely to succeed in talking someone round.

Researchers came to the conclusion after carrying out hearing tests on 30 young men who had been worked up into a fury.

The participants were given a folder of hostile statements to read to anger them, while scientists observed their heart rate, blood pressure and testosterone levels rise.

The research team from the University of Valencia found that when angry, the participants’ right ears were significantly more susceptible to sound.

However, there was no change in the left ear, according to the research, published in the journal Hormones and Behaviour.

It is thought this is because the left side of the brain processes sounds that come in through the right ear.

If anger activates it, noise from the right, but not the left, will be heard more keenly.

Previous research has shown that if you want to persuade someone to do something, you should also speak in their right ear.

(Read by Renee Haines. Renee Haines is a multimedia journalist at the China Daily Web site.)

(Agencies)