The electromagnetic signal in the radio-frequency range produced by the precession of the transverse magnetization of the spins. The rotation of the transverse magnetization induces a voltage in a receiving antenna (coil), which is amplified and demodulated by the receiver circuits. Electromagnetic signal in the radio frequency range produced by the precession of the transverse magnetization of the spins. The rotation of the transverse magnetization induces a voltage in a coil, which is amplified and demodulated by the receiver;; the signal may refer only to this induced voltage.

Small particles of ferrite are used as superparamagnetic contrast medium in MR imaging (appearing predominantly dark on MRI). These agents exhibit strong T1 relaxation properties, and due to susceptibility differences to their surroundings also produce a strongly varying local magnetic field, which enhances T2 relaxation to darken the contrast media containing structures.
Superparamagnetic contrast agents are also known by the abbreviation SPIO's (small particle iron oxide or superparamagnetic iron oxide) and USPIO's (ultrasmall particle iron oxide or ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide).
Two types of USPIO will be available on the market as blood pool agents, while SPIO's have been used as darkening contrast agents for liver imaging. As particulate matter they are taken up by the RES. Very small particles of less than 300 nanometers also remain intravascular for a prolonged period of time and thus can serve as blood pool agents.

See also the related poll result: 'The development of contrast agents in MRI is'

(MRA) Magnetic resonance angiography is a medical imaging technique to visualize blood filled structures, including arteries, veins and the heart chambers. This MRI technique creates soft tissue contrast between blood vessels and surrounding tissues primarily created by flow, rather than displaying the vessel lumen. There are bright blood and black blood MRA techniques, named according to the appearance of the blood vessels. With this different MRA techniques both, the blood flow and the condition of the blood vessel walls can be seen. Flow effects in MRI can produce a range of artifacts. MRA takes advantage of these artifacts to create predictable image contrast due to the nature of flow.
Technical parameters of the MRA sequence greatly affect the sensitivity of the images to flow with different velocities or directions, turbulent flow and vessel size.
This are the three main types of MRA:
All angiographic techniques differentially enhance vascular MR signal. The names of the bright blood techniques TOF and PCA reflect the physical properties of flowing blood that were exploited to make the vessels appear bright. Contrast enhanced magnetic resonance angiography creates the angiographic effect by using an intravenously administered MR contrast agent to selectively shorten the T1 of blood and thereby cause the vessels to appear bright on T1 weighted images.
MRA images optimally display areas of constant blood flow-velocity, but there are many situations where the flow within a voxel has non-uniform speed or direction. In a diseased vessel these patterns are even more complex. Similar loss of streamline flow occurs at all vessel junctions and stenoses, and in regions of mural thrombosis. It results in a loss of signal, due to the loss of phase coherence between spins in the voxel.
This signal loss, usually only noticeable distal to a stenosis, used to be an obvious characteristic of MRA images. It is minimized by using small voxels and the shortest possible TE. Signal loss from disorganized flow is most noticeable in TOF imaging but also affects the PCA images.
Indications to perform a magnetic resonance angiography (MRA):
Conventional angiography or computerized tomography angiography (CT angiography) may be needed after MRA if a problem (such as an aneurysm) is present or if surgery is being considered.

See also Magnetic Resonance Imaging MRI.

Creation of images of objects such as the body by use of the nuclear magnetic resonance phenomenon. The immediate practical application involves imaging the distribution of hydrogen nuclei (protons) in the body. The image brightness in a given region depends on the spin density and the relaxation times, with their relative importance determined by the particular imaging technique employed. Image brightness is also affected by motion such as blood flow.

See also Zeugmatography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging MRI.

(fMRI) Functional magnetic resonance imaging is a technique used to determine the dynamic brain function, often based on echo planar imaging, but can also be performed by using contrast agents and observing their first pass effects through brain tissue. Functional magnetic resonance imaging allows insights in a dysfunctional brain as well as into the basic workings of the brain.
The in functional brain MRI most frequently used effect to assess brain function is the blood oxygenation level dependent contrast (BOLD) effect, in which differential changes in brain perfusion and their resultant effect on the regional distribution of oxy- to deoxyhaemoglobin are observable because of the different 'intrinsic contrast media' effects of the two haemoglobin forms. Increased brain activity causes an increased demand for oxygen, and the vascular system actually overcompensates for this, increasing the amount of oxygenated haemoglobin. Because deoxygenated haemoglobin attenuates the MR signal, the vascular response leads to a signal increase that is related to the neural activity.
Functional imaging relates body function or thought to specific locations where the neural activity is taking place. The brain is scanned at low resolution but at a fast rate (typically once every 2-3 seconds). Structural MRI together with fMRI provides an anatomical baseline and best spatial resolution.
Interactions can also be seen from the motor cortex to the cerebellum or basal ganglia in the case of a movement disorder such as ataxia. For example: by a finger movement the briefly increase in the blood circulation of the appropriate part of the brain controlling that movement, can be measured.