Magnetic Resonance Imaging with Intermolecular Double Quantum Coherences

Recently a new method for magnetic resonance imaging based on the detection of relatively strong signal from intermolecular multiple quantum coherences (iMQCs) is reported. Such a signal would not be observable in the conventional framework of magnetic resonance; it originates in long-range dipolar couplings that are traditionally ignored. In this paper, we present the results of experimental studies to assess the feasibility of intermolecular double quantum coherences (iDQCs) imaging in humans. We show that the iDQC images are readily observable at 4T and that they do indeed provide different contrast than appears in conventional images.