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Receiver operating characteristic curves for Poisson signals

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Abstract

Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves for the detection of Poisson distributed signals were evaluated by computer simulation and found to be a set of nearly collinear points when plotted on probability axes. Approximate expressions were derived for the slope and intercept (d′) of the line containing the points. The predictive value of these expressions was verified by measuring slopé and d′ of ROC curves produced from computer simulation of Poisson signals. Estimates of slope and d′ from empirical ROC curves were distributed according to the Gaussian probability density with variance approximately equal to 3/n, where n is the number of stimulus repetitions used to determine the ROC.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology, John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia

    L. N. Thibos & W. R. Levick

  2. School of Optometry, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA

    T. E. Cohn

Authors
  1. L. N. Thibos
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  2. W. R. Levick
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  3. T. E. Cohn
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Thibos, L.N., Levick, W.R. & Cohn, T.E. Receiver operating characteristic curves for Poisson signals. Biol. Cybernetics 33, 57–61 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00337417

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00337417

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