We provide a novel method to increase SNR of segmented diffusion-weighted EPI acquisitions. Multiple gradient echoes were acquired after each diffusion-preparation and combined in an SNR-optimized way using weightings from quantitative T2* maps. The combination of diffusion-weighted echoes yielded an SNR-gain of 58% compared to single-echo dMRI data with an increase in the segmented readout duration by only 23.1 ms. The multi-echo diffusion MRI acquisition and combination were employed to acquire high-quality ex-vivo diffusion-weighted MRI data from a wild chimpanzee brain.
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