diff --git a/src/modality-specific-files/magnetic-resonance-imaging-data.md b/src/modality-specific-files/magnetic-resonance-imaging-data.md index 43db2321cc..c4ee76b7e3 100644 --- a/src/modality-specific-files/magnetic-resonance-imaging-data.md +++ b/src/modality-specific-files/magnetic-resonance-imaging-data.md @@ -900,7 +900,36 @@ A guide for using macros can be found at } ) }} -### Other RECOMMENDED metadata +### Combined DWI schemes + +Some DWI schemes are acquired by varying parameters including the +[`EchoTime (TE)`](../glossary.md#objects.metadata.EchoTime), +[`SmallDelta (δ)`](../glossary.md#smalldelta-metadata), +[`BigDelta (Δ)`](../glossary.md#bigdelta-metadata); +in addition to varying the diffusion-encoding weightings (b-values) and +gradients (b-vectors). + +For instance, in a single run the +[Connectome 2.0 scanner](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2021.118530) +collects DWI volumes where the `EchoTime`, `SmallDelta`, and `BigDelta` parameters can be varied. The DWI +volumes are concatenated in a single file and processed together with the `EchoTime`, `SmallDelta`, +and `BigDelta` values. + +BIDS permits saving the `EchoTime`, `SmallDelta`, and `BigDelta` values corresponding to the *N* +volumes in the NIfTI file. The `EchoTime`, `SmallDelta`, and `BigDelta` values MAY be stored as an array in the sidecar JSON file. +If a single `EchoTime`, `SmallDelta`, or `BigDelta` value is used for the entire acquisition, the value +MAY be stored as a single number in the sidecar JSON file. +The `EchoTime`, `SmallDelta`, and `BigDelta` values MUST be specified in seconds. + +The `EchoTime`, `SmallDelta`, and `BigDelta` fields MAY be +saved in the sidecar JSON file on any level of the directory structure and thus define those values for +all sessions and/or subjects in one place (see +[the inheritance principle](../common-principles.md#the-inheritance-principle)). + +As an exception to the [common principles](../common-principles.md#definitions) +that parameters are constant across runs, the `EchoTime`, `SmallDelta`, and `BigDelta` values MAY change across the DWI run. + +### Other metadata fields