The present invention relates to a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device and to a method for operating it. The basic components of an MRI device are the main magnet system (2) for generating a steady magnetic field, the gradient system (3) with at least one gradient coil, the RF system and the signal processing system. According to the present invention, the gradient coil is split into sub-coils (S1, S2) at least in the direction of the steady magnetic field. By doing so, the amplitude of the non-imaging component of the gradient field in the vicinity of the patient is reduced, leading to reduced peripheral nerve stimulation and thus enhanced image quality.