Brain Freezes?

Question

I know that when you eat/drink somthing really fast you can get a brain freeze, but what exactly is that and what process causes that?

Answer 1

"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

Answer 2

Brain freeze, or its given scientific name sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia, is a term used to describe a form of cranial pain or headache which people experience after consuming a very cold beverage or food (e.g. ice cream) particularly when consumed quickly.
The reaction is triggered by the cold ice cream, beverage or food, 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.

Answer 3

Brain freeze, cold headache, ice cream headache, freezie, Frozen Brain Syndrome, or its given scientific name sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia are terms used to describe a form of cranial pain or headache which people are known to sometimes experience after consuming cold beverages or foods such as ice cream, slurpees, or margaritas, particularly when consumed quickly.
== Mechanism and cause ==The reaction can be sometimes triggered within a few seconds after a very cold substance consumed comes into contact with the roof of the mouth. The body's response to cold environments is to vasoconstrict the peripheral vasculature (to reduce the diameter of blood vessels). This vasoconstriction is in place to reduce blood flow to the area, and thus minimize heat loss to keep warmth in the body. After vasoconstriction, they return to normal status and artery size results in massive dilation (vasodilation) of the arteries that supply the palate (descending palatine arteries). The nerves in the region of the palate (greater and lesser palatine nerves) sense this as pain and transmit the sensation of this pain back to the trigeminal ganglia. This results in pain that is referred to the forehead and below the orbit, other regions from which the trigeminal nerve receives sensation (This phenomenon is similar to the pain that is present in the left arm when someone is having a myocardial infarction or heart attack). A similar effect occurs when one takes a prescription vasodilator, such as Nitroglycerin or Viagra. It is a stabbing or aching type of pain that usually recedes within 10–20 seconds after its onset, but sometimes 30–60 seconds, and can persist for up to five minutes in rare cases. The pain is usually located in the midfrontal area, but can be unilateral in the temporal, frontal, or retro-orbital regions.

It has been reported that the pain can be relieved by moving the tongue to the roof of the mouth,[1] which will cause greater warmth in the region; it is also believed that the pain can be relieved by slowly sipping room temperature water. Laying the head to the side may also provide relief. Creating a mask with one's hands placed over the mouth and nose while breathing rapidly is also said to be useful as the temperature in the mouth rises quickly

Answer 4

The reaction can be sometimes triggered within a few seconds after a very cold substance consumed comes into contact with the roof of the mouth. The body's response to cold environments is to vasoconstrict the peripheral vasculature (to reduce the diameter of blood vessels). This vasoconstriction is in place to reduce blood flow to the area, and thus minimize heat loss to keep warmth in the body. After vasoconstriction, they return to normal status and artery size results in massive dilation (vasodilation) of the arteries that supply the palate (descending palatine arteries).

Answer 5

Brain freeze, or its given scientific name Spheno Palatine Gangleoneuralgia is a term used to describe a form of cranial pain or headache which people are known to sometimes experience after consuming cold beverages or foods such as ice cream, slurpees, or margaritas, particularly when consumed quickly.
In laymans terms, it is the result of the constriction of blood vessels in the stomach when put in contact with cold fluids. The (pain) that you feel in your head is actually not occuring in your head at all but is diverted from your stomach to a nerve in your head which usually recieves this particular pain. It's a process is similar to that of someone having pain in their left arm after having a heart attack. A much more scientific explaination is included in the link below.

Answer 6

There are blood vessles and 2 main blood vessles in your neck and close to your throat. When you drink something really cold it drops the temperature in your blood by a slight amount because it hits the walls in your throat and is absorbed. Your brain is sensitive in this sudden drop in temperature and causes this "brain freeze".

Answer 7

WHEN U QUICKLY EATING SOMETHING COLD IT HAPPENING.THE PAIN IS CAUSED BY THE RAPID COOLING OF THE ROOF OF THE MOUTH,WHICH IS CLOSE TO THE SPHENOPALATINE NERVE,A SECTION OF AN EXTENSIVE BUNDLE OF NERVES RUNNING FROM THE FACE UP IN TO THE BRAIN.

Answer 8

You do it so fast that it has no room to go down the esouphges so it goes up into your brain and nose and all that

Answer 9

the cold gets stuck in your throat and goes into the brain

Answer 10

I think that its the roof of your mouth gettin soo cold that it freezes your skull. But thats just me...