Members of a Syracuse University research team have shown that an obscure phenomenon called stochastic resonance扫描辐射仪 (SR) can improve the clarity of signals in systems such as radar, sonar声纳 and even radiography放射线照相术, used in medical clinics to detect signs of breast cancer. It does this by adding carefully selected noise to the system. The result has been a distinct清楚的，明显的 improvement in the system's ability to correctly identify precancerous lesions损害，机能障碍, plus a 36 percent reduction in false positives. The inventors have developed a novel method of calculating precisely the correct type and level of noise to add to existing noise in radiography or a similar system.

"We see a broad spectrum of applications for this technology," says research assistant professor Hao Chen. "If a system's performance is unsatisfactory, we add noise to the system based on a specific algorithm算法，运算法则 that can significantly improve system performance."

A patent covering the technology has been issued to Chen, Distinguished Professor Pramod K. Varshney and research professor James Michels. All are associated with SU's L.C. Smith College of Engineering and Computer Science.

In mammography乳房X线照相术 studies carried out by doctoral candidate Renbin Peng, the challenge was to identify clusters of micro-calcifications in breast tissue. These early signs of precancerous conditions average only 0.3 mm in size and offer only subtle微妙的，敏感的 contrast with surrounding tissue. In addition to improving detection of these lesions, the group has reduced false positives by more than a third.

While the current focus of the research group is on medical uses of stochastic随即的，猜测的 resonance, other applications are expected in enhancing audio, video, geophysical地球物理学的, environmental, radar and other signals. The group has been receiving support from the U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research. Ongoing investigations by the Syracuse group are expected to produce further improvements in the efficiency and robustness强壮性，稳健性 of the SR-based detection techniques.

A paper by the inventors on theory of stochastic resonance effect in signal detection was published by IEEE电气与电子工程师协会 Transactions in Signal Processing in July 2007 and became one of the top 10 downloads of that month. Another paper, covering the mammography studies, co-authored by Peng was published in IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Signal Processing in February 2009.