A method for detection of an evoked response signal in noise including: generating a plurality of stimuli receiving a noisy signal related to an evoked response to the plurality of stimuli divide the noisy signal into a plurality of responses to the plurality of stimuli estimate a statistic matrix for the plurality of responses shrink the statistic matrix calculate weights based on an inverse of the shrunk statistic matrix apply weights to the plurality of responses to construct a final response and output the final response. An apparatus having an input device configured to receive data related to a plurality of stimuli and a processor configured to: receive a noisy signal and divide the noisy signal into a plurality of responses estimate a statistic matrix shrink the statistic matrix calculate weights based on an inverse of the shrunk statistic matrix and apply weights to the plurality of responses to construct a final response.
