  We discuss how to exploit stochastic resonance with the methods of
statistical theory of decisions. To do so, we evaluate two detection
strategies: escape time analysis and strobing. For a standard quartic bistable
system with a periodic drive and disturbed by noise, we show that the detection
strategies and the physics of the double well are connected, inasmuch as one
(the strobing strategy) is based on synchronization, while the other (escape
time analysis) is determined by the possibility to accumulate energy in the
oscillations. The analysis of the escape times best performs at the frequency
of the geometric resonance, while strobing shows a peak of the performances at
a special noise level predicted by the stochastic resonance theory. We surmise
that the detection properties of the quartic potential are generic for
overdamped and underdamped systems, in that the physical nature of resonance
decides the competition (in terms of performances) between different detection
strategies.
