DIDACTIC DISCUSSION OF STOCHASTIC RESONANCE EFFECTS AND WEAK SIGNALS

A simple, paradigmatic, model is used to illustrate some general prope rties of effects subsumed under the label ''stochastic resonance.'' In particular, analyses of the transparent model show that 1) a small am ount of noise added to a much larger signal can greatly increase the r esponse to the signal. but 2) a weak signal added to much larger noise will not generate a substantial added response. The conclusions drawn from the model illustrate the general result that stochastic resonanc e effects do not provide an avenue for signals that are much smaller t han noise to affect biology. A further analysis demonstrates the effec ts of small signals in the shifting of biologically important chemical equilibria under conditions where stochastic resonance effects are si gnificant. (C) 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.