In a method and magnetic resonance (MR) apparatus for acquiring MR signals from an examination object an RF excitation pulse is directed into the examination object while activating magnetic field gradients in two different spatial directions, such that a magnetization in the examination object in the two different spatial directions is limited by the RF excitation pulse and the switching of the magnetic field gradients. The magnetization is excited in one of the two spatial directions, of a slice selection direction, in a number of periodic layers, so MR signals are generated in the multiple periodic slices. The MR signals in the multiple periodic layers are read out using multiple reception coils of the MR scanner.