I thought most of the article was pretty standard stuff, but I was interested in this part:
Researchers have found that nodding can be used to 'regulate' conversations. If you make single, brief nods while your partner is speaking, these act as simple signs of attentiveness, which will maintain the flow of communication from the speaker. Double nods will change the rate at which the other person speaks, usually speeding up the flow, while triple nods or single, slow nods often interrupt the flow altogether, confusing speakers so much that they stop in their tracks. So, if you want to express interest and keep your partner chatting with you, stick to brief single nods.
One of the best ways to get out of a conversation involves breaking the other person's momentum - as soon as you can, ask three close ended questions. For example, if the person is talking about their favorite dog. Ask 'How old is the dog?', 'Do they like cats?', 'Is it 730 already?' - then excuse yourself politely. It's not the most tactful way to extricate oneself from a running-over conversational hog but it works effectively.
Researchers have found that nodding can be used to 'regulate' conversations. If you make single, brief nods while your partner is speaking, these act as simple signs of attentiveness, which will maintain the flow of communication from the speaker. Double nods will change the rate at which the other person speaks, usually speeding up the flow, while triple nods or single, slow nods often interrupt the flow altogether, confusing speakers so much that they stop in their tracks. So, if you want to express interest and keep your partner chatting with you, stick to brief single nods.