  Barten's model of spatio-temporal contrast sensitivity function of human
visual system is embedded in a multi-slice channelized Hotelling observer. This
is done by 3D filtering of the stack of images with the spatio-temporal
contrast sensitivity function and feeding the result (i.e., the perceived image
stack) to the multi-slice channelized Hotelling observer. The proposed
procedure of considering spatio-temporal contrast sensitivity function is
generic in the sense that it can be used with observers other than multi-slice
channelized Hotelling observer. Detection performance of the new observer in
digital breast tomosynthesis is measured in a variety of browsing speeds, at
two spatial sampling rates, using computer simulations. Our results show a peak
in detection performance in mid browsing speeds. We compare our results to
those of a human observer study reported earlier (I. Diaz et al. SPIE MI 2011).
The effects of display luminance, contrast and spatial sampling rate, with and
without considering foveal vision, are also studied. Reported simulations are
conducted with real digital breast tomosynthesis image stacks, as well as
stacks from an anthropomorphic software breast phantom (P. Bakic et al. Med
Phys. 2011). Lesion cases are simulated by inserting single
micro-calcifications or masses. Limitations of our methods and ways to improve
them are discussed.
