A person's cognitive skills can be impacted when they have a cold, new research has suggested. Led by Chartered Psychologist Andrew Smith, a Psychology Professor at Cardiff University, the study suggested the coughing and congestion associated with colds has an effect similar to that of working at night and drinking alcohol.

Published in the journal Brain, Behavior and Immunity, the investigation looked at the results of baseline cognitive test results from 189 participants, with those developing a cold reporting slower thinking, reduced alertness and more negative moods.

In addition, it was shown that these people were slower to learn new information and had reduced reaction times, while their success in completing verbal reasoning and semantic processing tasks was also hampered.

Professor Smith noted: "Activities where safety is critical, like driving or operating dangerous machinery, may be impaired when you have a cold."