I"ve actually done some research on this subject. The goal of the research was to extend the treatment period for a trauma patient by lowering the temperature of the brain. Usually, the brain is the first organ to go when the body is having a circulation/oxygen problem. By cooling the brain, you can somehow lower the oxygen requirements which give you more time to send someone to the hospital. The only difference from the way we do it compared to the article is that we are attempting to lower the CSF's temp, not the blood's.