A method and apparatus for convective cooling of a brain in which cooled air is passed over a patient's head resulting in convective cooling of the patient's brain. The convective brain cooling apparatus comprises an air diffusing coverlet adapted to interface with an air cooling device and a coverlet capable of surrounding the patient's head and/or neck region. The method may also include the additional step of selectively controlling cerebral blood flow and/or cerebral metabolism to further cool the brain or to maintain the brain in a hypothermic state relative to the patent's core temperature. In alternative embodiments the apparatus and method may also include a cooling head cushion, an oral pharyngeal cooling device, a cool water misting device or the use of a network of elastic capillaries placed around the head or neck to maintain or increase the magnitude of the temperature gradient between the brain and the patient's body core.