T1 Relaxation

T1 relaxation, also known as longitudinal relaxation, is the process by which excited protons in our body's tissues return to their normal, stable state after being disturbed by an MRI pulse. When a magnetic field is applied, protons align with it and then get knocked out of alignment by a radiofrequency pulse. T1 relaxation is how these protons gradually realign with the magnetic field over time, releasing energy that MRI detectors can measure. This process helps differentiate tissues based on how quickly they recover, providing detailed images of internal structures.