Whether it's curled up in the fetal position, flat on the stomach or stretched out across the bed, the way people sleep reveals their personality, a British sleep expert said.

Professor Chris Idzikowski, director of the Sleep Assessment and Advisory Service and a visiting professor at the University of Surrey in southern England, has identified six common sleep positions and what they mean.

"We are all aware of our body language when we are awake but this is the first time we have been able to see what our subconscious says about us," he said.

Crouched in the fetal position is the most popular sleep pattern and favored by 51 percent of women, according to the results of the study he conducted for a large hotel group.

Fetal sleepers tend to be shy and sensitive while people who assume the soldier position, flat on their back with arms at their sides, are quiet and reserved.

Sleeping on one's side with legs outstretched and arms down in what Idzikowski refers to as the log, indicates a social, easy-going personality. But if the arms are outstretched in the yearner position, the person tends to be more suspicious.

The freefall, flat on the tummy with the hands at the sides of the head, is the most unusual position. Only 6.5 percent of people prefer it and they are usually brash and gregarious.

Unassuming, good listeners usually adopt the starfish position--on the back with outstretched arms and legs.

Idzikowski, who identified the positions by comparing personality traits of people, their preferred way of sleeping and the most common positions, said once a sleeping style is adopted it is rarely changed.

英国睡眠研究专家说：无论你是像胎儿一样蜷缩着睡觉，或是趴在床上睡，还是四肢伸开平躺着睡，睡觉的姿势都可以揭示你的性格。

睡眠评估咨询服务中心主任克里斯·伊济科夫斯基教授归纳出六种常见的睡眠姿势和它们的含义。他还是英国南部萨里大学的客座教授。

“当我们清醒的时候，我们都知道自己的肢体语言，而这回是我们第一次注意我们的潜意识在说些什么。”他说。

根据他对一个大型饭店集团所做的研究结果显示：像胎儿一样蜷缩着睡觉是最流行的睡觉姿势，51%的妇女喜欢这种睡姿。

胎儿式睡姿的人往往比较害羞、敏感，而仰卧在床上、双臂靠在身体两侧的士兵式睡姿的人则比较安静，保守。

伊济科夫斯基称侧卧、两腿伸直、双臂自然下垂的睡姿为圆木式。这种睡姿的人爱交际，容易相处。但是如果双臂伸出，呈渴望状，这样的人往往比较多疑。

自由式，即俯卧，双手放在头的两侧，这是最特别的睡姿。只有6.5%的人喜欢这样睡，他们通常性情急躁，爱社交。

谦逊忠实的听众通常选择仰卧且四肢伸展的海星式睡姿。

伊济科夫斯基通过比较人物性格特征、他们喜欢的睡眠姿势和最常见的睡姿归纳出以上这些睡姿，他说人们一旦采取了某种睡姿就很少会改变