The process of thinking is diverse, and among the most prominent approaches are visual thinking and verbal thinking. These employ different neural pathways and cognitive strategies, each demonstrating unique strengths in information processing, problem-solving, and creativity. Let us explore how these modes of thinking function and interact with each other in modern society.The Brain Processes Visual Information 60,000 Times Faster Than TextVisual thinking refers to the ability to recognize and process information as images, patterns, and spatial relationships. People with this thinking style tend to understand and remember complex concepts through concrete imagery. For example, Temple Grandin, a renowned researcher on the autism spectrum, describes her thinking as functioning "like photographs." She explains that when recalling specific situations or objects, she instantly assembles related concrete images in her mind. This ability is particularly advantageous in fields such as design, engineering, and the arts.Statistically, the superiority of visual information processing is clear. According to one study, the human brain processes visual information approximately 60,000 times faster than textual information. Additionally, data suggests that about 90 percent of information transmitted to the brain comes through vision. This is evidenced by concrete examples such as the importance of charts and graphs in presentation materials, or the impact of intuitive product design on consumer purchasing intent. In corporate training as well, learning methods using visual materials and workshops are reported to improve memory retention rates by an average of about 42 percent compared to text-based learning.The "Back of the Napkin" Thinking MethodVisual thinkers take a distinctive approach to problem-solving. They capture complex problems as a single picture or diagram, grasping the relationships between elements and the overall picture visually to find solutions. This resonates with the "Back of the Napkin" thinking method proposed by Dan Roam. He teaches that any complex idea can be simplified into a picture simple enough to be drawn on the back of a napkin, thereby deepening understanding and enabling communication with others. This approach is highly effective in brainstorming during the early stages of product development and in formulating business strategies. By thinking visually, the potential to quickly identify latent challenges and opportunities and generate innovative solutions increases.Episodes similar to the "Back of the Napkin" thinking method abound throughout history. For example, in the early stages of the Apollo program during the American space race, anecdotes remain of engineers discussing complex rocket trajectory calculations and landing sequences while illustrating them on blackboards and paper. Rather than diving into detailed calculations, they first grasped the overall picture and the relationships between key elements visually, deepening shared understanding and establishing direction. In the field of product design, sketches and mockups are highly valued. Steve Jobs is also said to have refined the final form of Apple products by repeatedly viewing and touching prototypes and sketches while developing ideas. The power to intuitively discover potential problems and room for improvement by "seeing" something as a concrete form is fundamental to visual thinking. These examples suggest that a single diagram or prototype can be worth a thousand words of detailed verbal explanation.Specific Characteristics of Visual ThinkersVisual thinkers—that is, "people who think in pictures"—are not merely good at drawing. Their brains possess unique mechanisms for organizing, associating, and remembering information.Spatial Arrangement and Relationship Recognition - Visual thinkers tend to arrange information spatially and find meaning through positional relationships. For instance, when understanding the structure of a complex system, they comprehend it by drawing a mental map or diagram showing where elements are positioned and how they interact. This is the ability to recognize abstract concepts as concrete arrangements, and it works particularly advantageously in professions requiring spatial awareness such as architects, urban planners, and even surgeons.Pattern Recognition - They excel at finding recurring patterns and principles among seemingly unrelated information. Even when large amounts of data are listed, they can visually capture hidden trends and anomalies. For example, the ability of financial market analysts to predict future trends from stock price chart movements, or physicians to detect signs of disease from X-ray images, depends deeply on this pattern recognition ability.Memory Mechanisms - The memory of visual thinkers often functions like a "visual library." They tend to remember information by linking it to concrete images or experiences rather than as text. According to one study, adding visual cues can improve memory recall rates by approximately 2.5 times. Like Temple Grandin, for whom hearing a specific word instantly brings countless related concrete images to mind, this is a typical example of visual memory.Understanding and Generating Non-Verbal Communication - Visual thinkers excel at reading non-verbal cues such as facial expressions, gestures, and body language. By visually capturing not just words but the emotions and intentions behind them, they can empathize at a deeper level and facilitate smoother communication. Skilled negotiators and leaders use this ability to decode non-verbal information to quickly grasp the atmosphere and the other party's true intentions, enabling appropriate responses.The Advantage of Verbal Thinking Lies in Its PrecisionVerbal thinking, on the other hand, is the ability to understand and express the world through words, logic, and abstract concepts. People with this thinking style excel at organizing information in an orderly manner and drawing conclusions based on logical reasoning. They demonstrate their true value in fields such as writing, debate, and programming.The advantage of verbal thinking lies in its precision. By using words, complex concepts can be clearly defined and analyzed in detail. As philosopher Shinji Kajitani points out, the very act of "thinking" is closely connected to the process of manipulating concepts through words and generating new meanings. In fields such as law, science, and philosophy, strict definition of words and logical structure are indispensable, with verbal thinking supporting their foundation.In the business world as well, verbal thinking is extremely important. Yuya Adachi emphasizes the importance of logical thinking and clear verbalization as what smart people think about before speaking. They excel at grasping the essence of problems in words, logically constructing solutions, and conveying them to others with persuasive language. For example, in M&A (merger and acquisition) negotiations, accurately understanding the meaning of each word in contracts and advancing discussions logically determines success or failure. One survey suggests that leadership teams with clear and logical communication skills have project success rates approximately 20 percent higher on average compared to those without such skills.Verbal thinking is also essential in formulating complex plans and constructing long-term strategies. Predicting future events, devising multiple scenarios, and evaluating the risks and opportunities of each requires abstract thinking and verbal expression. Corporate mission statements, visions, or detailed business plans can be said to be crystallizations of verbal thinking. These serve as the foundation for indicating the direction of the entire organization and guiding employees toward the same goals.A Society Where Verbal Ability Makes People Seem CompetentIn many situations in modern society, high verbal ability—particularly speaking speed and fluency—tends to be overly evaluated as an indicator of individual capability and intelligence. It is not uncommon for the volume of statements in meetings or eloquence in presentations to be directly equated with "competence." This can be described as a social convention formed through the intertwining of multiple factors including education systems, business evaluation criteria, and media influence.For example, many interviews require the ability to respond to questions immediately and logically. This is an advantageous situation for people with strong verbal thinking, but for those who organize their thoughts visually and carefully, there is a risk of being evaluated without sufficient thinking time. In corporate promotions and project leader selections as well, people who can lead discussions and clearly assert their opinions often have advantages. According to some data, employees who actively speak in meetings tend to be evaluated approximately 15 percent higher in leadership assessments compared to those who do not. However, this suggests that the "quantity" and "speed" of statements may be evaluated rather than their "quality."In such a society, people who need time for deep thought and visual thinkers who demonstrate excellent abilities through methods other than words may not be able to fully demonstrate their true value. When their unique insights and creativity are overlooked due to communication barriers, it is a significant loss for both individuals and organizations. For instance, there are actual cases where engineers who can accurately draw complex diagrams in their minds and instantly identify the root cause of problems are undervalued because they struggle to explain their thought processes in words.Toward a Society Where This Does Not HappenTo correct the current situation where verbal ability is overly evaluated and build a society that respects diverse thinking styles, several reforms are necessary.Multifaceted Evaluation Criteria - When evaluating individuals, it is necessary to consider not only verbal output but also diverse aspects such as visual expression, problem-solving processes, and concrete deliverables. For example, encouraging the use of diagrams and illustrations in presentations, or promoting the use of tools that visualize thought processes (mind maps, flowcharts, etc.) can be considered. In discussion settings, it is also important to cultivate a culture that values the depth of statements and unique perspectives, not just the speed of speaking.Diversification of Educational Methods - From an early age, children should have increased opportunities to express their thoughts not only through verbal expression but also through drawing, making things, and physical movement. By providing multifaceted learning methods without bias toward specific thinking styles, the potential abilities of each child can be drawn out. For example, in Finnish educational settings, group work and project-based learning are thriving, with a tendency to evaluate comprehensive abilities such as cooperation and problem-solving, not just verbal ability.Promotion of Visual Communication - It is important to foster a culture that actively utilizes not only text-based documents but also diagrams, videos, prototypes, and more in organizational communication. This allows both verbal thinkers and visual thinkers to access information and deepen understanding through their preferred methods. For example, in important decision-making situations, by explaining the logical process leading to decisions verbally while visually simulating the impact of those results, discussions from more multifaceted perspectives become possible.Securing Time for Reflection - It is essential to cultivate a culture that provides time for careful consideration rather than demanding immediate responses in meetings and decision-making situations. This enables people who organize their thoughts visually to offer high-quality opinions after sufficient deliberation. For example, presenting agenda items at the beginning of meetings and setting aside a few minutes of silence or time for individual note-taking can be effective.In this way, visual thinking and verbal thinking, while complementing each other's strengths, serve as driving forces for innovation and problem-solving in modern society. Rather than establishing superiority between them, understanding each characteristic and using them selectively according to the situation, or utilizing them in an integrated manner, is the key to enhancing the competitiveness of individuals and organizations. In the coming era, the ability to think and express both visually and verbally will be increasingly demanded. And building an environment where society as a whole respects diverse thinking styles and enables all people to maximize their abilities is believed to lead to a more creative and prosperous future.ReferencesVisual Thinking: The Hidden Gifts of People Who Think in Pictures, Patterns, and Abstractions - Temple GrandinWhat Smart People Think Before They Speak - Yuya AdachiWhat Does It Mean to Think? - A Philosophy Introduction from Age 0 to 100 - Shinji KajitaniThe Back of the Napkin: Solving Problems and Selling Ideas with Pictures - Dan Roam