Toward more reliable measurements of NOE effects in CEST spectra at around -1.6 ppm (NOE (-1.6)) in rat brain.

Because the NOE(-1.6) effect is more susceptible to the direct water saturation effect and more sensitive to physiological conditions than are other CEST effects, incorporating known sensitivities into the experimental design and data analysis is necessary to ensure more reliable NOE(-1.6) results.