If you have something to say sorry about today, here's a top tip: approach from the right-hand side and your notes of contrition have a better chance of hitting their mark.

Researchers in Spain have found that when someone is angry their right ear does a better job of listening than their left, the UK's Daily Telegraph reported.

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The University of Valencia researchers conducted a series of hearing tests on 30 young men whom they had provoked into a fury.

The men were given a collection of hostile statements to read which were designed to anger them while the scientists took measurements of the participants' heart rates, blood pressure and testosterone levels.

The team found that once provoked, the participants' right ears were more susceptible to sound whereas their left ears showed no change.

The scientists observed from these findings that any attempts to calm the men would be more likely to succeed were they to come from the right-hand side.

The research, published in the journal Hormones and Behaviour, concluded that the success of the right-ear approach could be down to the fact that this ear accesses the left brain, which is used to rationalise behaviour and process judgements.

So, if you need to talk someone around today, try talking to them from the right-hand side.

Do you have any apology stories? What have you found is the best way to butter someone up when you're in the wrong? Share your experience below...