Effect of noise correlation on detectability of disk signals in medical imaging.
Pixel signal-to-noise ratio is one accepted measure of image quality for predicting observer performance in medical imaging. We have found, however, that images with equal pixel signal-to-noise ratio (SNRp) but different correlation properties give quite different observer-performance measures for a simple detection experiment. The SNR at the output of an ideal detector with the ability to prewhiten the noise is also a poor predictor of human performance for disk signals in high-pass noise. We have found constant observer efficiencies for humans relative to the performance of a nonprewhitening detector for this task.
D005583:Fourier Analysis; D005720:Gamma Rays; D006801:Humans; D008433:Mathematics; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011859:Radiography / Q000379:methods*