Investigating the “bilingual edge”: origins, current practices, and future directions

• Reflection on the enduring impact of Ellen Bialystok’s 1992 chapter on bilingualism. • Over three decades of research in this area have greatly advanced our understanding. • Advances in methods refine how bilingualism’s cognitive effects are assessed. • Mixed findings highlight the need for more ecologically valid research. • Future work should embrace diversity, Open Science, and refined statistical methods. We revisit Ellen Bialystok’s seminal chapter, “Selective Attention in Cognitive Processing: The Bilingual Edge”, exploring its impact on over three decades of research. We explore how theoretical and methodological advances have refined our understanding of the cognitive effects of bilingualism including shifts in how bilingualism is operationalized and assessed, the application of neuroimaging techniques, and the adoption of more robust statistical approaches. We also draw attention to ongoing challenges including mixed reports of bilingual effects identified across evidence syntheses, the role of individual differences, and the need for more ecologically valid research methodologies. Finally, we plot a course for future research, identifying the need for increased diversity in bilingual samples, a greater commitment to Open Science principles, further investigation into nuanced aspects of bilingual experience, and continued innovation in statistical practices. We highlight the enduring impact of Bialystok’s formative chapter as we continue to push our field forward.