Winning party mind games

From choosing a suitable outfit to avoiding being cornered by a drunken bore and managing not to outstay one's welcome, a party can be a social minefield.

In fact, one of Britain's top scientists believes that what should be a simple social gathering is in fact one of the most demanding and complex situations the human mind has to deal with.

Fortunately, Professor Robert Winston has come up with five simple tricks he believes will make a party a pain-free experience.

Using the latest scientific research he believes anyone can spot a fake smile, tell if someone is lying and - perhaps most importantly of all - tell if a member of the opposite sex is interested in you. Fertility expert Lord Winston, who researched the subject for his BBC1 programme The Human Mind, to be broadcast on 15 October, said: "Going to a party is one of the most complex things our brain undertakes. It performs a phenomenal amount of extremely complex tasks, all at an amazing speed."

Here, he reveals his party secrets.