MRI Signal Delay: A Potential Probing Mechanism for Cellular Imaging in the Brain

Yongxain Qian¹, Fernando E. Boada¹

This work presents new observations of the delay of MRI signal in human brain on 3T MRI scanner with ultrashort echo time (UTE) acquisitions. The MRI signal delay was related, by our hypotheses, to those parameters such as ion concentration and T2* relaxation time, that characterize cellular micro environment inside/outside a cell as well as cell membrane. An electromagnetic (EM) interaction between RF pulse and mobile ions in tissue was employed to illuminate the delay of MRI signals.