Learning Resources

Curated links and materials to build foundational and advanced knowledge in Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy.

🌱 Introductory (Start Here)

Introduction to In Vivo MRS A highly accessible overview of what MRS is, how it differs from MRI, and the basic physics underlying the technique (chemical shift, splitting). Read on MRIQuestions.com →
Source: Allen D. Elster, MD
The Basics of NMR An excellent interactive hyper-text on NMR concepts. Very intuitive explanations of spin, macroscopic magnetization, RF pulses, and relaxation. Read The Basics of NMR →
Source: Joseph P. Hornak, Ph.D.

Localization Techniques (PRESS vs STEAM) Detailed explanations of the most common single-voxel localization sequences, including timing diagrams and pros/cons. Compare PRESS and STEAM →
Source: MRIQuestions.com
MR Spectroscopy Quality Control & Reporting Experts' consensus recommendations for minimum reporting standards (MRSinMRS) and quality assessment in clinical MRS. Read Consensus Paper (MRSinMRS) →
Source: Roland Kreis et al. (NMR in Biomedicine)

Quantum Mechanics of NMR For those who want the rigorous math. Product operator formalism to describe coupled spin systems and complex sequences. Keeler's Understanding NMR ->
Source: James Keeler (Cambridge)
Spectral Fitting and Quantification Theory The mathematics behind linear combination modeling, basis sets, and extracting molar concentrations. FSL-MRS Documentation →
Source: FMRIB Software Library
MRS Simulation & Processing (FID-A) Open-source MATLAB toolkit for simulating pulse sequences and processing raw MRS data before fitting. FID-A GitHub Repository →
Source: CIC Methods

Carbon-13 (13C) Background Basic principles, natural abundance challenges, and metabolic pathways tracked by 13C spectroscopy. Read on MRIQuestions.com →
Source: MRIQuestions.com
Hyperpolarized Xenon-129 (129Xe) From physics of optical pumping to clinical metrics like Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC) and Gas Exchange. Read Research Review (RSNA) →
Source: Radiology: Imaging Cancer (RSNA)
Phosphorus-31 (31P) Bioenergetics Measurements of ATP, PCr, and Pi to assess cellular energy states in muscle and brain. 31P MRS Methodology Review →
Source: PubMed