What Are Brain Zaps? Doctors Explain the Shocking Sensation—and When To Worry
That strange electric jolt in your head has a name—and the sensation is more common than you think
You’re going about your day when, all of a sudden, you feel a strange, hard-to-describe sensation in your head—like an electrical bolt that seems to come out of nowhere. If you’ve never experienced it before, it can feel confusing or even alarming. But here’s what you need to know: That sudden sensation is very real and it has a name—brain zaps.
In fact, people experiencing brain zaps have recently taken to social media to share their stories and find community. We asked medical experts to break down what brain zaps are, whether they’re dangerous and a few surprising reasons you might be experiencing them, including perimenopause.
What are brain zaps?
So what exactly are these mysterious, shock-like sensations? “‘Brain zaps’ have many names and are short, painful intracranial phenomena,” says Doug Strobel, MD, neurologist and founder of Healthy Brain Doc.
Woman's World Answers
As to what these sensory disturbances feel like, people have described them in various ways.
“I’ve heard them described in different ways, such as weak electrical shocks in the head, a buzzing sensation in the head or a brief vibrating feeling,” says Jeffrey Chester, DO, medical director at The Ohana. “They often happen when a person is moving their eyes or their head and they may cause a feeling of lightheadedness or pressure in the head.”
“If you’ve ever turned your head and felt a pop, click or snap in your neck, imagine hooking that feeling up to an electrical outlet,” says Dr. Strobel. “The majority feel a ‘zap’ or ‘shock’ in the skull [or] behind the eyes. The same people also note buzzing associated with wooziness or even nausea. Balance can be off, and anxiety present. It is a rainbow, not a single color.”
What causes brain zaps?
While brain zaps can feel like they come out of nowhere, they usually have an underlying cause. Dr. Strobel and Dr. Chester say the sensation is linked to sudden shifts in the brain’s chemical balance. These shifts may include:
- Changes in neurotransmitters, the brain chemicals that help nerve cells communicate
- Antidepressant-related changes, which Dr. Chester notes commonly occur when someone stops taking antidepressant medications like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) too quickly
- Hormonal fluctuations
Perimenopause can be a sneaky trigger
“Estrogen plays an important role in regulating neurotransmitters,” says Dr. Chester. “When this is disrupted, it can cause brain zaps and other symptoms like brain fog. These may become more noticeable during periods of poor sleep, which is common during perimenopause.”
Are brain zaps dangerous?
Experiencing sudden, painful sensations in your head can feel scary, but are they actually cause for concern? “It is still a good idea to talk to your doctor about them,” says Dr. Chester. “They can cause anxiety, and talking with your doctor can help rule out other medical causes for them.”
Dr. Strobel cautions that while brain zaps are often harmless, it’s important not to assume every episode is benign. He says a medical provider can look at the other symptoms that occur alongside a brain zap to determine whether something more serious could be going on. For example, if the sensation happens along with loss of consciousness or lingering weakness, further testing, such as an EEG or MRI, may be needed to rule out conditions like seizures or stroke.
How are brain zaps treated?
There’s not a medication that will take away the brain zaps themselves, but by working with your doctor, you can treat what might be the underlying cause.
Dr. Strobel says that if you can identify a clear trigger that may have caused your brain zaps, such as perimenopause, menopause or stopping a medication, treatment can focus on addressing the cause rather than simply hoping the symptom will go away.
Your 3-step brain zap checklist
If you’ve recently experienced brain zaps—or want to know what to do if they happen—Dr. Chester recommends following these three steps:
- Talk to your doctor: “Review all medications that you are taking,” says Dr. Chester. “If you have recently stopped any medications abruptly, especially antidepressants, let your doctor know.”
- Prioritize a healthy nervous system: “Make sure you are getting enough sleep and staying hydrated,” says Dr. Chester. “Focus on eating regular, healthy meals [and] do things to help calm your nervous system, like practicing yoga regularly.”
- Keep track of your brain zaps: “Log when they occur and what triggers them,” says Dr. Chester. “That way, you can talk to your doctor about them in detail.”
Brain zaps are one of those strange body sensations that may feel more alarming than they are to your health. But by understanding what they are, how they work and finding the right support with your doctor, you can navigate this journey with confidence.
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