Stochastic resonance and the benefits of noise - from ice ages to crayfish and SQUIDs

Abstraction: Noise enhances weak signal detection in nonlinear systems via stochastic resonance

Key points:

• Stochastic resonance: in certain nonlinear systems, adding noise can enhance detection of weak signals
• Counter-intuitive phenomenon — noise is usually considered a nuisance in dynamical systems
• Demonstrated across domains: ice age climate cycles, crayfish sensory neurons, SQUIDs (superconducting quantum interference devices), electronic circuits
• Biological sensory apparatus is among the systems where noise provides measurable benefit
• Potential applications in physical, technological, and biomedical engineering
• Published 1995 (PubMed 7800036); foundational survey paper on the phenomenon

Connections: Stochastic Resonance · Signal Processing · Nonlinear Systems

Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7800036/