For questions concerning the area of psychophysics that deals with the discernment of information-bearing stimuli from background noise or other distractions.

Detection theory in psychology drew upon much of the theory of radar and its applications.

For further information, see [Detection Theory](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detection_theory).

For a canonical text written by two of its pioneers, see [Signal Detection Theory and Psychophysics](http://www.amazon.com/Signal-Detection-Theory-Psychophysics-Marvin/dp/0932146236/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1341460035&sr=8-1&keywords=signal+detection+theory+and+psychophysics).