2026 Volume 31 Issue 2 Pages 71-85
This commentary outlines practical considerations in conducting perceptual and cognitive research with children, infants, and older adults, using two topics as illustrative examples and highlighting key methodological issues. The first topic addresses lifespan development and cross-linguistic differences in audiovisual speech perception. The discussion draws on studies examining language and cultural differences in audiovisual speech perception, developmental changes in school children, early development in infats and toddlers, and age-related changes in older adults, integrating these findings to advance the argument. The second topic focuses on the effects of musical instrument training on cognitive function. Specifically, it introduces research on the neural characteristics of older musicians who have practiced instruments continuously since early life, as well as studies on the cognitive and neural effects of initiating and maintaining instrument training for more than three years in older adulthood. The impact of musical training on the brain is then discussed in comparison with findings from younger participants, providing a lifespan perspective on how sustained musical practice may shape cognitive function and brain structure.
