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by Andy Is Wicked Married to Penal Colony on September 13th, 2004
"Brain freeze" is the pain sometimes inflicted by devouring something cold like ice cream or a cold beverage, often very quickly.
The reaction is (obviously) triggered by the cold ice cream or beverage; coming into contact with the roof of the mouth. It triggers nerves that give the brain the impression of a very cold environment. To heat up the brain again, blood vessels start to swell, which causes the headache-like pain for approximately 30 seconds.
The temperature change in the roof of the mouth has to be rather drastic; this is why brain freeze often occurs on warm days.
The pain can be relieved by putting the tongue to the roof of the mouth, which logically will heat it up.
From:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain_freeze
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Comments
I always thought I swallowed the ice too quick. Another lesson learned...
by wickedwillie on September 14th, 2004
Great answer, I've always called them ice cream headaches :-)
by Daydreamer on June 3rd, 2005
I always thought it was partial vacuum in the sinus cavities caused by cooling the air trapped up the eustachion tubes
by Anonymous on July 4th, 2005
I've found that "Slurpee" or "Icee" drinks cause this more than just about anything.
by Old School on December 28th, 2006
Extremely thick, rich thickshakes are the undisputed champions. I went to a friend's restaurant, and I saw someone convulse after drinking one of these things.
by Halskiisaklink on January 2nd, 2007
Slurpees are the worst
by Andy Is Wicked Married to Penal Colony on January 2nd, 2007
Very good explaination, but this happens on any day warm or cold.
by Angeleve on January 5th, 2007
Hence it says often occurs instead of always occurs on warm days. Good point though.
by Andy Is Wicked Married to Penal Colony on January 5th, 2007
somthing to ponder about... as a forensic scientist I am going to point out only that this has to do with body temp. Cold or warm unless in an extreme situation... Your body temp will remain about the same in cold or warm. So the temp that really matters is what you are putting in your mouth.
by Angeleve on January 5th, 2007
I think that the closer the cold is to your mouth, the easier the "Brain Freeze" comes, because I recently got oral surgery, where they cut a hole in the roof of my mouth, and now, even when I drink something that's not even that cold, it REALLY hurts. Good explanation by the way.
by Anonymous on January 9th, 2007
in responce to angeleve's comment...
your wrong on a warm day your body doesn't have to work as hard to keep the brain warm and it senses this by the temperature of the air you breath against the roof of your mouth when you are breathing cold air that nerve is already some what cold and the delta temperature of ice or ice cream or simaler foods is much less the pain is not caused by the cold but the delta temp between the air around you and material being placed against the nerve because if brain is already being heated internally a little more heat is not much of a problem might even be a good thing how ever if your brain is getting all the heat needed externally then the body turns on the burn your brain over heats and feels pain
by goku90504 on July 16th, 2009
I always get my brain freeze pain unilaterally in the temple region. Guess I will have to get one intentionally so I can try the "tongue on the roof of the mouth" relief promised here!
by GSX14YRS on May 24th, 2010