Observing at Speed

In my work as a visual investigator, I’ve honed the ability to observe fast-moving content with a level of detail many might miss. From continuity errors to fleeting frames, I can quickly scan through footage at 24 frames per second (fps) and identify details in individual frames, even when they appear on the screen for just a fraction of a second. Interestingly, I trace the genesis of this ability to a device I used as a boy—a speed-reading trainer designed to improve visual processing. This observation skill aligns with how the brain processes visual information, particularly the concept of temporal resolution , the brain’s ability to process visual stimuli over time. While the average person can consciously register about 10-12 separate images per second (known as the "flicker fusion rate"), trained individuals can push this boundary. My experience has allowed me to process visual input at higher speeds, increasing my visual sensitivity.

Speed Reading and Visual Perception

The speed-reading device I used as a child exposed lines of text for progressively shorter periods, training my brain to absorb visual information quickly. This type of training is similar to what cognitive psychologists refer to as perceptual learning, where repeated exposure to fast-moving or detailed stimuli sharpens the brain’s ability to detect subtle changes in the environment. Research suggests that perceptual learning can enhance saccadic eye movements—the rapid movements of the eyes between points of fixation. When viewing fast-paced visual material, saccades help us capture critical details without needing to focus for extended periods. Over time, these quick, precise eye movements become automatic, allowing me to observe individual frames in footage even when played back at 24fps.

The Science Behind Processing Visual Information

The human brain processes visual information in visual working memory, which allows us to momentarily hold and analyse what we see before discarding or storing it. My trained ability to identify brief anomalies in video content reflects an enhanced working memory capacity for visual information. Neuroscientific research also shows that experts in various fields—such as visual investigators, video editors, animators, speed readers develop neural pathways that allow for faster visual processing without losing detail, a phenomenon known as neural plasticity. In particular, my experience correlates with the brain’s ability to use top-down processing—where past experience and knowledge allow us to make rapid judgments about what we see. As I review footage, my brain prioritizes key visual cues based on context, helping me to quickly identify outliers..

Conclusion

My ability to observe at speed, honed through years of practice and supported by scientific principles of visual processing, allows me to see details others might miss. This skill, once nurtured by speed-reading exercises, now plays a central role in my work as a Visual Investigator, where identifying fleeting visual anomalies can be the difference between overlooking critical evidence or not.