2006-07-07 17:23:13 · 4 answers · asked by Wesley l 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Other - Science
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.
2006-07-07 17:27:09 · answer #1 · answered by Sarah 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I will pass on what I have been told, but I have no way to know if this is the actual process
When the top of your mouth gets very cold, the blood vessels in the area expand to allow more blood flow in order to warm the area back up. In the case of a classic "brain freeze", the top and back of the mouth get down to ice-cream temperatures and the blood vessel reaction is so strong, that expanding blood vessels apply pressure to the brain in that area. They really hurt, don't they.
2006-07-08 00:29:04 · answer #2 · answered by enginerd 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a brain freeze is when your brain hurts !!
2006-07-08 00:26:25 · answer #3 · answered by ~Irishgirl~ 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
when i was little and would do something really ignorant (like make fun of someone), my mom would tell me 'your brains gonna freeze and you will be stuck like that for the rest of your life'.
her technique worked very well. :)
2006-07-08 01:32:47 · answer #4 · answered by wickedturnip 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋