The Cool Science Behind Brain Freeze

A quick guide to what brain freeze is, why it happens, and how to make it stop fast.

The Scoop on Brain Freeze

We all love ice cream. We don’t love that sudden zing in the forehead you can get when you eat it too fast. Good news: brain freeze is harmless, super common, and easy to fix once you know the trick.

What is “brain freeze”?

Scientific name: sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia Phonetic: SFEH-noh-PAL-uh-teen GAN-glee-oh-noo-RAL-juh Also called an ice-cream headache, it’s a quick, sharp pain in the forehead or temples after eating or drinking something very cold.

Why it happens

• Cold hits the roof of your mouth (your palate).

• Blood vessels there shrink from the cold, then quickly open back up.

• Nearby nerves send a “pain” signal that your brain mistakes as coming from your forehead. (This mix-up is called referred pain.)

• Result: a fast, frosty headache that usually fades in less than a minute.

How to stop it fast

• Warm the roof of your mouth: Press your tongue flat against it or sip room-temperature water.

• Cover & breathe: Cup your hands over your mouth and nose and breathe gently to warm the air.

• Pause & pace: Stop eating for a moment; take smaller bites/sips next time.

Ready to test your new skills? Grab a scoop, take tiny bites, and keep the smiles—skip the sting!