The human use of information-II: Signal detection for the case of an unknown signal parameter

Abstract

Two specific cases of signal detection involving uncertainty in the frequency of a sound signal are compared with the case of the signal-known-exactly. In the first case the signal is either of two known frequencies; in the second case the signal is any frequency within a given range. It is suggested that detection behavior that is optimal for the three cases requires a deal mechanism: a combination of a wide-open receiver end a panoramic receiver. Evidence is presented that supports the existence of such a mechanism. Estimates of the bandwidth end seen-rate of the receiver are included.