Study Says Some Players Can Naturally See More Frames Per Second

A new study published in PLOS ONE journal has found that some people see more images per second. In other words, some users can perceive the world at higher FPS than others. The research—helmed by Trinity College Dublin—also claims that gamers can seemingly use the enhanced FPS sensitivity to gain an edge in games over other players. The better perception can help track fast-moving images easily.  

We don’t yet know how this variation in visual temporal resolution might affect our day-to-day lives. But we believe that individual differences in perception speed might become apparent in high-speed situations where one might need to locate or track fast-moving objects, such as in ball sports, or in situations where visual scenes change rapidly, such as in competitive gaming,” says study co-author Clinton Haarlem.

The study utilized 88 candidates who observed a flickering LED light, which flashed at varying speeds until it felt continuous to them. The study found that each observer could perceive breaks in flashes until a certain point—some could discern it up to 60, while others barely reached over 30.

Higher FPS Sensitivity Is A Double-Edged Sword

While having a higher FPS sensitivity sounds like an essential trait for gamers, it is likely far from a blessing for many. It may give you a slight edge in competitive titles, but playing titles at 30 frames per second will simultaneously make the difference more apparent. Additionally, the fluctuating frames per second will likely be more noticeable and may cause discomfort while playing games. 

mega fascinating if this is real and correct, as for games it suggests that some might actually be genetically predisposed to better see (or be nauseated & put off by) fluctuations in frame rate https://t.co/U9v9XSjg53

— Alex Donaldson (@APZonerunner) April 2, 2024

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It is worth noting that more research needs to be done to figure out if the difference in frame rate perception truly affects gamers on a noticeable scale. You are less likely to see a difference in day-to-day life.