What Causes Brain Freeze?

That terrible pain the befalls us when enjoying an icy treat! How does that happen? Is there a cure? Let Hank explain.
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[ChrisKogos]

I've never had a brain freeze I get throat freezes

[payvandpajoohi]

I just wait and suffer till it's gone =)

[ewan.cartwright]

I don't get brain freeze, I don't know if it's physiological or just the way I eat Ice Cream, but I don't and no one believes me. :(

[torri]

When I get brain freeze i feel it in my chest, head, or back. It's always one of the three.

[ryanshultzy]

Please more videos like this SciShow! Thank you!

[TheOriginalPoon]

Odd how others seem to have "brain freezes" in different areas other than the head. 

I happen to get it in my chest and is incredibly uncomfortable and makes it difficult to breathe.

[sakura]

I don't ever remember feeling it in or around my head. I always feel it in my throat.

[EasterWitch]

I've never experienced brain freeze.

[thunderejjim]

Since it happens to me fairly often, I'd be interested to hear some of the actual medical reasons behind what I was always told was a "head rush." Everybody has always explained it to me by saying it was because I simply got up to fast and the blood rushed out of my brain to quickly, but surely there is more to it than that if that is even the real reason.

[DawnVengeanceX]

What occurs scientifically when you have butterflies in your stomach?

[conrad]

POV: you just got a brain freeze and now you want to see how it works

[corymcoaxenful]

Love the shows, and was super stoked to see the youtube commercial on tv.... t t at was a pleasant surprise. Keep up the good work.

[OGTitanium]

CONGRATULATIONS ON 2 MILLION SUBSCRIBERS KEEP UP THE SCIENCE

[rambo]

5 year old video, yet I knew when I had the curiosity of what a brain freeze was you guys would have the answer. Thanks SciShow.

[tobe]

Finally a channel that actually deserves its millions of subs!

[GayGHvain]

Ooooh ok, behind the eyes too ! I've always been so puzzled by the fact eating/drinking something cold was causing pain ONLY behind my right eye. I knew it had something to do with "things being too close to one another" in my head, but now my life is complete :D

[dareoism]

So the brain doesn't actually freeze?

[WilliamBrehm]

QQ!
What's the deal with the whole "dropping a penny off of the empire state building could kill a person if landed on their head"
Would a penny's terminal velocity, if it got reached, really kill, or rather, hurt you?

[madblade]

Why does my butt itch when I don't wipe good?

[KegianRux]

This is relevant to my interests - I love brain freezes. I suffer from migraines, and acquiring a brain freeze during migraine is a relief.
And it's hard to for me to get a brain freeze. I can eat any amount of ice cream, no matter how cold it is, and not get one.