We estimated human observer linear templates underlying the detection of a realistic, spherical mass signal with mammographic backgrounds. Five trained naïve observers participated in two-alternative forced-choice (2-AFC) detection experiments with the signal superimposed on synthetic, clustered lumpy backgrounds (CLBs) in one condition and on nonstationary real mammographic backgrounds in another. Human observer linear templates were estimated using a genetic algorithm. A variety of common model observer templates were computed, and their shapes and associated performances were compared with those of the human observer. The estimated linear templates are not significantly different for stationary CLBs and real mammographic backgrounds. The estimated performance of the linear template compared with that of the human observers is within 5% in terms of percent correct (Pc) for the 2-AFC task. Channelized Hotelling models can fit human performance, but the templates differ considerably from the human linear template. Due to different local statistics, detection efficiency is significantly higher on nonstationary real backgrounds than on globally stationary synthetic CLBs. This finding emphasizes that nonstationary backgrounds need to be described by their local statistics.

© 2007 Optical Society of America

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Citation lists with outbound citation links are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an OSA member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Log in to access OSA Member Subscription

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Cited by links are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an OSA member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Log in to access OSA Member Subscription

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Figure files are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an OSA member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Log in to access OSA Member Subscription

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Article level metrics are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an OSA member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Log in to access OSA Member Subscription

Related Journal Articles

• Visual signal detection in structured backgrounds. III. Calculation of figures of merit for model observers in statistically nonstationary backgrounds (JOSAA)
• The Rose model, revisited (JOSAA)
• Role of phase information and eye pursuit in the detection of moving objects in noise (JOSAA)
• Visual signal detection with two-component noise: low-pass spectrum effects (JOSAA)
• Mass detection on mammograms: influence of signal shape uncertainty on human and model observers (JOSAA)

Related Conference Papers

• Diffraction-Limited Impulse Response Image Reconstruction with a Single Imaging Pixel
• Recovery of Myosin Filament Positions in Muscle Electron Micrographs
• Photo-controlled Absorption in Bacteriorhodopsin Films for Medical Image Processing
• Impact of the 2D-Structured Noise in the Post-Processing of Hybrid Optical-Digital Imaging Systems
• A Model of Temporal Integration during Electrical Stimulation of the Human Retina