Stochastic Resonance From Suprathreshold Stochastic Resonance to Stochastic Signal Quantization

Stochastic resonance has been observed in many forms of systems, and has been hotly debated by scientists for over 30 years. Applications incorporating aspects of stochastic resonance may yet prove revolutionary in fields such as distributed sensor networks, nano-electronics, and biomedical prosthetics. Ideal for researchers in fields ranging from computational neuroscience through to electronic engineering, this book addresses in detail various theoretical aspects of stochastic quantization, in the context of the suprathreshold stochastic resonance effect. Initial chapters review stochastic resonance and outline some of the controversies and debates that have surrounded it. The book then discusses suprathreshold stochastic resonance, and its extension to more general models of stochastic signal quantization. Finally, it considers various constraints and tradeoffs in the performance of stochastic quantizers, before culminating with a chapter in the application of suprathreshold stochastic resonance to the design of cochlear implants.

Preface; 1. Introduction and motivation; 2. Stochastic resonance: its definitions, history and debates; 3. Stochastic quantization; 4. Suprathreshold stochastic resonance: encoding; 5. Suprathreshold stochastic resonance: large N encoding; 6. Suprathreshold stochastic resonance: decoding; 7. Suprathreshold stochastic resonance: large N decoding; 8. Optimal stochastic quantization; 9. SSR, neural coding, and performance tradeoffs; 10. Stochastic resonance in the auditory system; 11. The future of stochastic resonance and suprathreshold stochastic resonance; Appendices; References; Index.

Ideal for researchers in fields from computational neuroscience through to electronic engineering, this 2008 book addresses theoretical aspects of stochastic quantization, in the context of the suprathreshold stochastic resonance effect. Each chapter ends with a review of the main points, and open questions to guide researchers in finding new research directions.