The [ 1 ] ice cream headache has been a bit of a medical mystery. Until
recently.In a new study, researchers watched blood flow in volunteers' brains as they
[ 2 ] ice water through a straw—which they aimed at the top of their mouths, a
trick that triggers brain [ 3 ]quickly.Subjects alerted the scientists when they felt the brain pain, and again when
it subsided.The researchers saw that the anterior cerebral artery widened just before the
subjects got the headache, and it contracted just as the pain started to
pass.This artery was likely bringing extra blood to the brain in an effort to keep
it warm. Which means that pressure from the extra fluid inside the skull could
be to blame for the passing pain. The results were presented at the Experimental
Biology 2012 annual meeting. [Melissa Mary Blatt, et al., "Cerebral Vascular
Blood Flow Changes During 'Brain Freeze'"]These findings might also lead to ways to prevent the onset of migraines or
more serious, [ 4 ] brain injury-related headaches.In the meantime, take it slow when [ 5 ] to inhale
those cool summertime treats. Consider yourself warmed. I mean warned.