Final answer:
As the slice thickness decreases, partial volume artifacts decrease while edge gradient artifacts increase.
Step-by-step explanation:
When the slice thickness is decreased, the partial volume artifacts decrease while the edge gradient artifacts increase. Partial volume artifacts occur when a voxel includes more than one type of tissue, resulting in a distorted representation. As the slice thickness decreases, the chance of including multiple tissue types in a voxel decreases, reducing partial volume artifacts. On the other hand, edge gradient artifacts occur due to the intensity differences between adjacent structures. When the slice thickness is decreased, the sharpness of the edges increases, leading to a greater gradient and more pronounced edge gradient artifacts.