Help! I Think My Brain is Frozen...

Aghhh...My Head Hurts

I am sure that whoever is reading this has most definitely had Sphenopalatine Ganglioneuraliga at least once in their life. The voice inside your head probably just responded to that statement with extreme confusion and denial. Of course you have never had whatever that confusing name was, it sounds too serious to have affected you, right...? Well, I am here to tell you that you actually most likely have because in reality, it is simply just the scientific term for a brain freeze.   

What you think a brain freeze is

Have you ever wondered what that agonizing pain you feel in your head is after consuming a delicious, cold, refreshing treat on a hot summer day is? Although it only lasts for a short period of time, the pain can be quite unbearable. I am going to assume you know that it is a brain freeze. But what exactly does this even mean? A brain freeze, other wise known as an ice cream headache, cold neuralgia, or cold stimulus headache, is a an intense, but brief, pain located in the front of the head as a result of eating or drinking something cold. Such pain can arise from things such as ice cream, ice cubes, ice pops, frozen drinks, or even cold air. 

Let's take a deeper dive into what is actually happening inside that head of yours

But what is going on at the molecular level? For starters, no, your brain is not actually frozen, nor is your blood getting cold. In reality, your blood vessels are rapidly constricting (vasoconstriction) and rapidly widening (vasodilation) as a response to cold stimulus in the roof of your mouth or back of your throat. Subsequently, this activates pain receptors in the trigeminal nerve, or the nerve that perceives pain and temperature shifts from inside the mouth. Because these nerves are so sensitive, the extreme stimuli changes and proximity of these nerves causes them to react. Essentially, the trigeminal nerve sends a signal of pain and frigid temperatures to your consciousness which is then received and interpreted by the brain cortex. But why does this rapid dilation of blood vessels cause such sharp pain in the head? Well, the brain interprets this as head pain since the trigeminal nerve also transmits sensation to the head and scalp. In other words, your brain briefly malfunctions and misinterprets the rapid movements and cold stimuli for that excruciating pain you feel. Who knew your brain could make mistakes?! 

FUN FACT: Did you know the rapid constriction of blood vessels is a survival instinct used to maintain your body's core temperature? It is truly fascinating what our bodies are capable of doing!

What is really happening inside your brain

                                                         

                                

A closer look into the trigeminal nerve

The trigeminal nerve, or CN V, is the fifth cranial nerve and the largest one. It has three main branches, each of which serves the face's sensory innervation as its main purpose. The ocular (V1), maxillary (V2), and mandibular (V3) nerves are the various branches.

The Trigeminal Nerve/System

So, how can you stop this searing head pain?

One of the most common solutions you might have been told to stopping a brain freeze is placing your thumb on the roof of your mouth. I am here to tell you that this actually does in fact work! Do you know why? Well, putting your thumb on the roof of your mouth helps in transferring warmth to the area, alleviating the pain from the cold stimulus. Basically, any method that involves circulating warm air into your mouth and body will help in bringing mouth and throat temperature back to normal. This can be as simple as drinking a warm drink or covering your nose and mouth with your hands and breathing rapidly to increase the flow of warm air. 

A boy getting a brain freeze with ice cream!

                                               

Are there those more prone to getting brain freezes?

In a sense, yes there can be people who experience more pain or brain freezes more often than others. This really just means that they have a more sensitive trigeminal nerve than other people. Also, recent studies have shown that individuals who suffer from migraines are more often prone to brain freezes. More specifically, Dr. Jorge Serrador, a cardiovascular electronics researcher, explores this idea more closely in his research in the "FASEB Journal" (April 2012 Issue). Dr. Serrador claims that we already know migraine sufferers are more likely to suffer brain freezes after consuming something cold compared to those who never get migraines. The real mystery is what happens during a migraine vs. a brain freeze. Well, Serrador hypothesizes that actually, the same process most likely occurs or at least something very similar and vasodilation causes a rush of warm blood into brain tissue so that the brain remains warm and avoids any drastic temperature shifts. Moreover, Dr. Serrador and his team suggest that further research may finally lead to medications that can help treat or even cure migraines. Since dilated arteries result in a blood rush to the brain that causes immense pressure and pain, then a drug that constricts the blood vessels should reduce the pressure, ultimately alleviating the pain an individual feels. 

How common are brain freezes?

Believe it or not, only 30%-40% of people are susceptible to brain freezes. Isn't it weird to think about how there are people who have never experienced this before? I guess you might be more special than you think ;) 

So, next time you have a cold treat and feel that excruciating head pain, remember your body is trying to keep you alive!