Information-Theoretic Distance Measures and a Generalization of Stochastic Resonance

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Abstract
We show that stochastic resonance (SR)-like phenomena in a nonlinear system can be described in terms of maximization of information-theoretic distance measures between probability distributions of the output variable or, equivalently, via a minimum probability of error in detection. This offers a new and unifying framework for SR-like phenomena in which the “resonance” becomes independent of the specific method used to measure it, the static or dynamic character of the nonlinear device in which it occurs, and the nature of the input signal. Our approach also provides fundamental limits of performance and yields an alternative set of design criteria for optimization of the information processing capabilities of nonlinear devices.