Many people believe that the human eye cannot see more than 60 frames per second (FPS), leading some to think there is no benefit to using monitors with higher refresh rates or playing games at higher frame rates. This idea has circulated for years on gaming forums, social media, and in discussions about games, movies, and display technology.
However, this belief is a myth because the human eye does not have a fixed limit of 60 FPS. To understand why this claim is incorrect, it is important to understand what FPS means, how displays work, and how the human eye and brain process visual information.
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What Is FPS?
FPS stands for frames per second, a measurement that shows how many still images, known as frames, are displayed on a screen every second. For example, if a game runs at 60 FPS, it means that 60 individual images are shown every second. When these images are displayed rapidly one after another, they create the illusion of smooth motion.
A simple way to understand FPS is by imagining a flip book, where each page contains a slightly different drawing. When the pages are flipped slowly, each drawing is seen separately, but when flipped quickly, the drawings appear to move. Digital displays create motion in the same way by showing many still images in rapid succession.
The Human Eye Does Not See in FPS
The human eye does not actually see the world in frames per second because FPS is a measurement created for cameras, videos, games, and displays rather than for human vision. Instead of viewing separate frames, our eyes continuously collect light from the environment.
This visual information is converted into electrical signals and sent to the brain, which processes them into one smooth and continuous view of the world. Since human vision works continuously rather than frame by frame, scientists do not describe it using FPS, making the claim that the human eye can only see 60 FPS scientifically incorrect.
What Is Refresh Rate (Hz)?
Another important concept is refresh rate, which is measured in hertz (Hz). Refresh rate refers to how many times a monitor updates the image on the screen every second. For example, a 60 Hz monitor refreshes the display 60 times each second, while a 120 Hz monitor refreshes it 120 times each second. Although FPS and refresh rate are related, they are not the same. FPS refers to the number of frames generated by a computer, gaming console, or graphics card, whereas refresh rate refers to the number of times a monitor can display updated images.
For example, if a 60 FPS video is played on a 45 Hz monitor, the monitor cannot refresh quickly enough to display every frame properly, which may result in screen tearing or skipped frames, particularly if the display does not support variable refresh rate (VRR) technology. This is one reason why many gamers prefer monitors with refresh rates of 120 Hz, 144 Hz, 165 Hz, 240 Hz, or even higher, as these displays can make motion appear smoother while reducing motion blur and flickering.
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Where Did This Myth Originate From?
No one knows exactly where the belief that humans cannot see more than 60 FPS first began, but many people believe it may have originated from Hollywood. Most movies have traditionally been filmed at 24 FPS because this was the lowest frame rate that made motion appear natural while also allowing good sound quality. During the early years of filmmaking, using higher frame rates required more film, making movie production significantly more expensive.
Over time, audiences became accustomed to the look of 24 FPS, and it became the standard for cinema. Even today, despite modern cameras and displays supporting much higher frame rates, most movies are still filmed and shown at 24 FPS with motion blur. The misunderstanding likely began when people incorrectly assumed that movies were filmed at 24 FPS because humans could not see anything higher.
In reality, the choice was based on practical considerations such as technology, production costs, and sound quality rather than the limits of human vision. As this misconception spread, it gradually evolved from the idea that humans could only see 24 FPS into the more common myth that the limit was 60 FPS, despite there being no scientific evidence supporting a fixed 60 FPS limit for human vision.
What's the Maximum Frames Per Second the Human Eye Can See?
Many people ask what the highest number of frames per second the human eye can see is, but scientists generally consider this the wrong question. A more accurate question is, "At what point do people stop noticing differences between different frame rates?"
As frame rates increase, the differences between them become smaller. This does not mean that higher frame rates cannot be perceived; instead, it means that the improvements become more difficult for most people to notice. The human eye and brain can process only a certain amount of visual information at any given moment, so beyond a certain point, adding more frames every second provides diminishing visual improvements. The ability to notice these differences depends on several factors, including a person's eyesight, sensitivity to motion, viewing conditions, and the type of content being viewed.
For example, most people can easily notice the difference between 30 FPS and 60 FPS because games and fast-moving videos appear much smoother and clearer at 60 FPS. However, the difference between very high frame rates, such as 220 FPS and 250 FPS, is much harder for most people to detect because both already provide extremely smooth motion.
Some People Notice Flickers at Up to 500 Hz
Not everyone experiences motion in the same way. People's eyesight and sensitivity to movement vary, allowing some individuals to notice improvements at higher frame rates more easily than others. Some people are also more sensitive to flickering or subtle changes in motion, making higher refresh rates appear smoother and more comfortable. These differences are influenced by both biological factors and training or experience.
For example, research conducted by the U.S. Air Force found that trained military pilots could recognize and process visual information at speeds far higher than 60 FPS or 90 FPS. This research was performed while developing a flight simulation system capable of delivering a steady 120 FPS to match the pilots' exceptional visual processing abilities.
Another study found that some people can detect flickering at frequencies as high as 500 Hz under carefully controlled testing conditions that differ from everyday viewing environments. Although these conditions were specialized, the findings demonstrated that the human visual system can detect changes much faster than previously believed. These results challenge the long-held assumption that refresh rates between 50 Hz and 90 Hz are always sufficient to eliminate visible flickering.
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The Truth About Human Vision and FPS
The belief that the human eye cannot see more than 60 FPS is a myth. Human vision does not function by perceiving a fixed number of frames every second. Instead, the eyes continuously collect light, convert it into electrical signals, and send that information to the brain, which creates a smooth and continuous visual experience.
FPS is simply a measurement of how many still images are displayed every second, while refresh rate measures how many times a monitor updates the displayed image each second. Although the visual improvements become smaller as frame rates increase, scientific research shows that many people can still perceive differences beyond 60 FPS. Trained individuals, such as military pilots, are capable of processing visual information at much higher speeds, and some people can even detect flickering at frequencies of up to 500 Hz under specialized testing conditions.
There is no single FPS limit that applies to every person, as the ability to notice differences depends on factors such as eyesight, motion sensitivity, viewing conditions, and the type of content being watched. For these reasons, the claim that the human eye can only see 60 FPS is not scientifically accurate.
