Does intelligence make you a better lover?

Now is the time to stop lamenting your bookish ways.

After years wishing we had ditched the dictionary and reached for the peroxide and Kama Sutra instead, we discover that it's the women with more emotional intelligence who have most fun in bed.

Of course, secretly we knew it all along, but now London professors have done the research to prove that those emotionally clever women are more in touch with their own feelings and better at communicating their desires to their partners.

But has anyone ever actually noticed? We staked out the smart set outside UCL student union to ask whether they think the brainy make better lovers.

YES
Sasha, 20, art student
Yes. Unintelligent people might not realise that sex is not just about ticking the box. There are things involved that one needs to put an effort into and be creative.

NO
Alex, 19, student
No. It's just based on experience. The more experience the better. I don't look for intelligence in a lover. I go for beauty and a connection and that's it.

NO
Natalie, 28, PR
No. Often intelligent people have social problems and can be really weird. They're always the nerdy ones. It's the street guys who are a bit rough and ready that are better in bed.

YES
Danny, 25, engineer
Yes. An intelligent person would be more thoughtful when it came down to it. If you were a bit on the thick side you would probably be more after your own benefit than the girl's benefit.

NO
Emma, 18, student
No. I don't think there's an intelligence aspect to sex. It's about passion so it's based on the instinct you have. The only thing that intelligent people do better is safe sex.

YES
James, 21, medical student
Yes. If you're more intelligent you're more in touch with your emotions and that's important to sex. I think it applies to women and men. The more intelligent you are, the better you understand your partner's needs.

YES
Joan, 57, mature student
Yes. I've just completed a degree at Birkbeck and I'm highly intelligent and a very good lover.

NO
Dean, 27, student
No. Perhaps if I had sex with an intelligent person and an unintelligent person at the same time I could be more sure. I've had a range of partners, but I haven't noticed a difference.