MRI contrast using synthetic pulse sequences

A method of generating a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) image, comprising:

• acquiring a series of synthetic divided subtracted inversion recovery (dSIR) images with T2* sensitization during a functional task, wherein the series of synthetic dSIR images is synthetically generated using Bloch equations and has a plurality of different inversion times;
• analyzing the series of synthetic dSIR images to identify a region of signal change corresponding to brain activation;
• and
• generating at least one synthetic fMRI image corresponding to the identified region of signal change, wherein the at least one synthetic fMRI image exhibits increased sensitivity to both perfusion and Blood Oxygen Level Dependent (BOLD) effects.

A method for generating bipolar filter magnetic resonance images using Multiplied, Added, Subtracted and/or Divided Echo Acquisition (MASDEA) sequences, including:

• acquiring at least two echo acquisition signals;
• performing mathematical operations using Bloch equations on the at least two echo acquisition signals, wherein performing mathematical operations includes at least one of multiplication, addition, subtraction, and division, and wherein performing the mathematical operations includes applying one or more signal models derived from the Bloch equations to the at least two echo acquisition signals;
• and
• generating a synthetic image data set based on the performed mathematical operations to visualize iron-containing tissues with increased sensitivity.