According to one aspect, a method is provided for detecting events or elements in physical signals, including at least one implementation of a reference artificial neural network, at least one implementation of an auxiliary artificial neural network distinct from the reference artificial neural network. The auxiliary artificial neural network being simplified relative to the reference artificial neural network. At least one assessment of a probability of presence of the event or the element by the implementation of the reference artificial neural network or by the implementation of the auxiliary artificial neural network, where the reference artificial neural network is implemented when the probability of presence of the event or the element is greater than a threshold, and wherein the auxiliary artificial neural network is implemented when the probability of presence of the event or the element is below the threshold.