Stochastic Resonance Phenomenon Induced by Visual Noise Stimulus Using a Mixed-Reality Device

Abstract

Stochastic resonance (SR) is a phenomenon in which perceptual sensitivity is enhanced by applying weak noise. Methods for inducing SR using electrical or magnetic noise in the visual cortex are limited in their applicability due to technical and spatial constraints, such as the need for precise electrode positioning and the non-portability of stimulation devices. Additionally, the method of inducing SR by displaying visual noise stimuli on a screen is limited to visual information presented on the monitor and cannot be applied to other contexts. We hypothesized that inducing SR by displaying visual noise stimuli as holograms via a mixed-reality (MR) device could overcome such limitations and enable broader technological applications. The present study investigated the effect of visual noise stimuli on the ability to discriminate figures. Eleven participants discriminated between U-shaped figures displayed on a monitor for 19 ms. The visual noise stimulus consisted of dynamic block noise with 1-mm × 1-mm squares displayed in random positions. When the visual noise stimulus was displayed at an appropriate intensity for each participant, the accuracy of figure discrimination increased. The results indicated that a visual noise stimulus displayed via an MR device induced SR and improved the ability to discriminate figures. © 2025 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC.