What can be concluded when the phase matrix is increased?

When the phase matrix is increased in MRI, it refers to a higher number of phase encoding steps used during the image acquisition process. This change directly impacts several aspects of the resulting image quality and timing.

Increasing the phase matrix improves the spatial resolution of the MRI images. This is because more phase encoding lines allow for more detailed spatial information to be captured, essentially allowing smaller structures to be distinguished more clearly. So, statement regarding SNR increasing is not entirely accurate, as SNR is influenced by multiple factors and doesn't necessarily improve just because the phase matrix is higher.

Moreover, when considering scan time, increasing the phase matrix does lead to longer scan times. More phase encoding steps mean that more data needs to be acquired, and this typically results in an increase in the total scan duration. Therefore, opting for a higher phase matrix allows for better spatial resolution but comes at the cost of having to spend more time on the scan itself.

In summary, increasing the phase matrix does indeed increase scan time due to the need for more data acquisition, while also enhancing spatial resolution.