In a method and apparatus for recording MR signals with an image-recording sequence with which preparation gradients for preparing the MR signals are switched before the signal readout and readout gradients, in order to predominantly record the MR signal components with a desired signal coherence pathway in the readout segment, the signal components with an undesired signal coherence pathway are suppressed by dephasing gradients. The dephasing gradients are determined independently of the time intervals in which the preparation gradients are switched, and only in dependence on the effective size of the gradient moments of the preparation gradients.