What will occur when reducing the FOV (field of view) only?

Reducing the field of view (FOV) in MRI primarily increases the spatial resolution of the images produced. This is because a smaller FOV captures a more detailed area, allowing for finer spatial information to be presented in the resulting images. The relationship between FOV and voxel size is important here; when the FOV is reduced but the matrix size remains constant, the voxel dimensions decrease. Smaller voxels contribute to a higher spatial resolution, making it possible to differentiate smaller adjacent structures more effectively.

The option suggesting decreased spatial resolution is therefore not consistent with the principles of MRI physics regarding FOV adjustments. This misinterpretation might stem from a misunderstanding of the interplay between FOV, matrix size, and voxel dimensions.

In terms of signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), reducing the FOV typically decreases the amount of signal collection because the same amount of signal is now focused on a smaller area. Consequently, this could lead to a decreased SNR. Regarding T1 contrast, reducing the FOV does not inherently affect the T1 relaxation characteristics of tissues, which are more dependent on other factors like sequence timing parameters rather than just the FOV.

Thus, the assertion that reducing the FOV leads to decreased spatial resolution does not align with MRI principles