A new study by researchers at Trinity College Dublin suggests that some people can better perceive at faster intervals as others. Which consequently also means some people can actually perceive the difference of a visual running at higher frames per second (FPS).
The study, publicly available in full on Plos One, was to measure the variance of what’s called the critical flicker fusion (CFF) threshold, a way to quantify visual temporal resolution. In other words, it’s the ability for a being able to see more images per second, or to use gamer parlance, the ability to perceive FPS.
The study conducted multiple tests to 88 participants aged between 18-35 years old from Trinity College Dublin. The tests involve participants observed an LED light and is instructed to rotate a dial that changes the LED light flashes. Two of the three tests involves participants incrementally increase or decrease the flash frequency of the LED light (in Hz) until either a constant stream of light or flickering is observed.
The results showed “the magnitude of the variation in CFF we found between individuals is quite large”. For the most part, the CFF thresholds reported between the three tests somewhat follows a normal distribution, with most participants able to perceived around 40-50Hz.
But that also means there are also a few extreme outliers who can perceive more or less than the average. One test saw a participant having to decrease the frequency of LED light flashes until it flickers, starting at 65Hz, only for them to report that it’s already flickering at that frequency.
The results also indicate there are no variance between males and females in regards to CFF thresholds.
Clinton S. Haarlem, PhD candidate at Trinity College Dublin and the main author of the paper remarks that further studies should see if the variance of visual temporal resolution in humans and how it affects to real-world scenarios, “especially those requiring high-speed perception and action, such as athletic performance or competitive gaming.”
Modern video games are usually either capped at 30 FPS or 60 FPS, with some titles allowing unlimited framerate that is only capped by the refresh rate of the display. Gaming monitors are now commonly able to run at 120Hz and higher.
However, there isn’t seem to be a consensus on whether all games should be running at higher frame rates or played on higher refresh rate screens outside of profesional or competitive players. Some gamers couldn’t care less if a game is 30 FPS or 60, while others do.
The study should explain why there are so many differing opinions when it comes to higher frame rates and refresh rates.
Speaking to The Guardian, Prof Kevin Mitchell who supervised the study said: “Because we only have access to our own subjective experience, we might naively expect that everyone else perceives the world in the same way we do. This study characterises one such difference. Some people really do seem to see the world faster than others.”
Via The Guardian