Diffusion MRI (1): Overview and Signal Models

Abstract

Diffusion MRI is a powerful tool for characterizing the local properties of microstructures in living organisms with rich water molecules, especially for neuro brain area, using parameters of various signal models. A diffusion MRI dataset consists of signals measured using a variety of directions and strengths of the gradient field expressed in q-space. In addition to the well-known diffusion tensor imaging, a wide variety of signal models has been proposed for providing new information of local microstructures. In this series of short reviews for diffusion MRI, this manuscript covers introduction of diffusion weighted imaging, signal models and its parameter inference for better understanding of diffusion MRI basics.