Why do we get brain freeze?

“I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream” goes the popular tongue twister, based on a song written in the 1920s by American musicians Howard Johnson, Billy Moll, and Robert A. King. And ice cream is indeed the perfect cold treat for a hot summer’s day, isn’t it? Except when it gets too cold! Sometimes, with the very first mouthful, the sudden chill of brain freeze rushes to your head, causing a sharp pain that lasts a few seconds. Brain freeze is also known as “ice cream headache” because that’s usually what causes it, but it can also come on when drinking chilled beverages. It sure makes for an uncomfortable few seconds, doesn’t it?! Do you have any tips to prevent brain freeze? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: ⁠How can social media exposure lead to vicarious trauma?⁠ ⁠Why is laughing contagious?⁠ ⁠How does the Matthew Effect help us understand class inequalities?⁠ A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. First Broadcast: 10/7/2024 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices