Aperiodic stochastic resonance in excitable systems

Stochastic resonance (SR) is a phenomenon wherein the response of a nonlinear system to a weak periodic input signal is optimized by the presence of a particular level of noise. Here we present a method and theory for characterizing SR-type behavior in excitable systems with aperiodic inputs. These developments demonstrate that noise can serve to enhance the response of a nonlinear system to a weak input signal, regardless of whether the signal is periodic or aperiodic.