Researchers in the USA have found that a protein in the brain might explain why women are more talkative than men – three times more chatty, in fact. The research team at the University of Maryland say a "language protein" that goes by the name of Foxp2 is a lot more prevalent in women's brains. The protein was first discovered a decade ago and was deemed to be a key neurological component of speech. The scientists say it is a lot more abundant in girls than boys. They believe the protein is the reason why girls start speaking earlier and more quickly than boys. It also supports claims that women speak about 20,000 words a day, compared to just 7,000 words for the average man.

Research team leader professor Margaret McCarthy said: "This study is one of the first to report a sex difference in the expression of a language-associated protein in humans or animals." She added: "The findings raise the possibility that sex differences in brain and behaviour are more [widespread], and established earlier than previously [thought]." Other scientists have said there is more than one protein responsible for speech and that the research is in its infancy. Readers of Britain's Daily Mail newspaper offered some interesting insights into the chattiness of women. One said women have to talk more because, "men are not good listeners and women must repeat themselves to be heard".