This article presents a method for dynamic, high-resolution cerebral blood flow (CBF) imaging using laser speckle. By illuminating the cortex with laser light and imaging the resulting speckle pattern, relative CBF images with tens of microns spatial and millisecond temporal resolution are obtained. The technique is validated against conventional laser-Doppler measurements and used to monitor CBF changes during focal cerebral ischemia and cortical spreading depression. The method provides high-resolution images of the residual CBF gradient in the ischemic core, penumbra, oligemic, and normally perfused tissues over a 6 × 4 mm cortical area. Successive speckle images show a decrease in residual CBF, indicating an expansion of the ischemic zone. During cortical spreading depression, a 2 to 3 mm area of increased CBF (160% to 250%) propagates at 2 to 3 mm/min. The technique is easy to implement, requiring only a standard CCD camera and laser, and allows for high-resolution monitoring of CBF changes in studies of cerebral pathophysiology. The method uses the spatial intensity fluctuations of the speckle pattern to quantify blood flow, and is compared with laser-Doppler flowmetry, showing high correlation (R² = 0.98). The technique provides accurate, high-resolution images of CBF dynamics, including the spatial and temporal evolution of CBF changes during focal cerebral ischemia and cortical spreading depression. The speckle imaging method is a promising tool for monitoring CBF in experimental studies of cerebral pathophysiology and could be used for intraoperative monitoring of CBF spatial characteristics.This article presents a method for dynamic, high-resolution cerebral blood flow (CBF) imaging using laser speckle. By illuminating the cortex with laser light and imaging the resulting speckle pattern, relative CBF images with tens of microns spatial and millisecond temporal resolution are obtained. The technique is validated against conventional laser-Doppler measurements and used to monitor CBF changes during focal cerebral ischemia and cortical spreading depression. The method provides high-resolution images of the residual CBF gradient in the ischemic core, penumbra, oligemic, and normally perfused tissues over a 6 × 4 mm cortical area. Successive speckle images show a decrease in residual CBF, indicating an expansion of the ischemic zone. During cortical spreading depression, a 2 to 3 mm area of increased CBF (160% to 250%) propagates at 2 to 3 mm/min. The technique is easy to implement, requiring only a standard CCD camera and laser, and allows for high-resolution monitoring of CBF changes in studies of cerebral pathophysiology. The method uses the spatial intensity fluctuations of the speckle pattern to quantify blood flow, and is compared with laser-Doppler flowmetry, showing high correlation (R² = 0.98). The technique provides accurate, high-resolution images of CBF dynamics, including the spatial and temporal evolution of CBF changes during focal cerebral ischemia and cortical spreading depression. The speckle imaging method is a promising tool for monitoring CBF in experimental studies of cerebral pathophysiology and could be used for intraoperative monitoring of CBF spatial characteristics.