Synopsis

Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance spectroscopy (DW-MRS) offers a unique opportunity to probe tissue microstructure in vivo. Here we discuss the motivations behind DW-MRS and the specificity of brain metabolites vs. water molecules. Some of the conventional sequences used in DW-MRS experiments are described. A "live" DW-MRS acquisition on a clinical MRI scanner is shown as well as some of the essential steps for processing DW-MRS data. We give some examples of the unique features that can be extracted, such as the length of neuronal and glial processes or the microscopic anisotropy of neurons and glial cells. Finally, take-home messages are summarized.