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What causes "brain freeze"?

By AB-Joel Asked Sep 13 2004 3:50PM
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Top Answer out of 46

by Andy Ninja Is Wicked Back To Work on Sep 13, 2004 at 9:52 pm Permalink

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"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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Avatar Angeleve Jan, 05 2007 at 11:53 PM
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.
Avatar Anonymous Jan, 09 2007 at 03:24 AM
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.
Avatar goku90504 Jul, 16 2009 at 11:46 PM
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

Answer 2 out of 46

by Jessica on Jul 13, 2009 at 1:49 pm Permalink

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ice creamm!
Answer originally posted in response to What gives you a brain freeze?
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Answer 3 out of 46

by Phillis - Zacks little sister on Jul 13, 2009 at 1:49 pm Permalink

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Math! +5
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Answer 4 out of 46

by dead leaves raked in a pile on Jul 13, 2009 at 1:47 pm Permalink

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too much ice cream too fast
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Avatar ANNONYMOUS Jul, 13 2009 at 01:47 PM
ThnXXX!!

Answer 5 out of 46

by SgtThor on Jul 13, 2009 at 1:56 pm Permalink

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It is caused by quickly eating or drinking very cold substances. It is the result of the rapid cooling and rewarming of the blood vessels on the roof of the mouth.

It only happens when it is hot outside, you cannot get it on cold days.
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Avatar goku90504 Jul, 16 2009 at 11:49 PM
wrong it's just harder to get on cold days how ever if you are in a heated room or you eat something with a simaler temp difference as ice cream to air temp on a hot day to the air temp of the cold day air then you'll get the same thing it's about the difference of temperature

Answer 6 out of 46

by KelJo85 on Jul 13, 2009 at 1:56 pm Permalink

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Eating ice cream too fast!
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Avatar ANNONYMOUS Jul, 13 2009 at 01:58 PM
ThnXXX!!!

Answer 7 out of 46

by jennybabes44 on Jul 13, 2009 at 1:55 pm Permalink

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slush puppy or ice of any sort!
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Avatar ANNONYMOUS Jul, 13 2009 at 01:59 PM
ThnXXX!!!
Avatar jennybabes44 Jul, 17 2009 at 04:56 PM
I got a -1 for this comment. like really! its the truth!
Avatar ANNONYMOUS Jul, 17 2009 at 05:54 PM
It's a newbie!!

Answer 8 out of 46

by XT. on Jul 13, 2009 at 1:54 pm Permalink

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Slupee from 7-Eleven.
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Avatar ANNONYMOUS Jul, 13 2009 at 01:55 PM
ThnXXX!!

Answer 9 out of 46

by Lippycow Jetpacking for Nelson on Jul 13, 2009 at 1:51 pm Permalink

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Very cold drinks:)
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Avatar ANNONYMOUS Jul, 13 2009 at 01:53 PM
ThnXXX!!
Avatar Lippycow Jetpacking for Nelson Jul, 14 2009 at 03:24 PM
Welcome:)

Answer 10 out of 46

by Shanel with an S on Jul 13, 2009 at 1:50 pm Permalink

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7-11 sluprees!
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Avatar ANNONYMOUS Jul, 13 2009 at 01:54 PM
ThnXXX!!
*specially the Xtra large ones!!


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