Methods, systems and computer-readable storage mediums relate to imaging techniques of a region, for example, the brain, with magnetization transfer contrast (MTC°) effects with less specific absorption rate (SAR). The methods, systems and computer-readable storage mediums may include acquiring MR image data from at least one magnetic resonance (MR) scan that includes a pre-pulse signal and a pulse sequence. The pre-pulse signal may be less than 500°, e.g., from about 150° to 425°, and the pulse-sequence may be a gradient echo based sequence. The methods, systems and computer-readable storage mediums may include generating information associated with an image of at least one region of a subject. The information may include quantitative or qualitative information of a region of a brain. The quantitative information may include volume information, contrast to noise ratio information, number of voxels, as well as other information.