Francisco Garre-Frutos

POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER·EXPERIMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY

Madrid, Spain

fgfrutos@gmail.com·fgarrefrutos.com·Scholar·ORCID·OSF·Bluesky

Education

PhD in Psychology
Granada, Spain
University of Granada
2021 – 2025
Thesis: Awareness, Control, and Automaticity in Value-Modulated Attentional Capture.
Supervisors: Juan Lupiáñez and Miguel A. Vadillo.
Distinction: International Doctorate; cum laude.
MSc in Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience
Granada, Spain
University of Granada
2020 – 2021
Thesis: Inhibition of return and learned value.
Supervisor: Juan Lupiáñez.
BSc in Psychology
Murcia, Spain
University of Murcia
2016 – 2020

Research Experience

Postdoctoral Researcher
Madrid, Spain
Autonomous University of Madrid · CALL Lab
Jul. 2026–present
Research stay
Ghent University · Braem Lab
Ghent, Belgium
Sept.–Dec. 2026 (scheduled)
Host: Senne Braem.
Postdoctoral Researcher
Granada, Spain
University of Granada · CIMCYC
Jan.–Jun. 2026
Predoctoral Researcher
Granada, Spain
University of Granada · CIMCYC
Nov. 2021–Dec. 2025
Supervisors: Juan Lupiáñez and Miguel A. Vadillo.
Research stay
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam · Theeuwes Lab
Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Sept.–Dec. 2024
Host: Jan Theeuwes.

Awards & Fellowships

Bridging Postdoctoral Contract
Granada, Spain
University of Granada · UGR–Santander Bridging Contracts Programme
2026
RLDM Mobility Award
Reinforcement Learning and Decision Making Conference (RLDM)
2025
Science Outreach Grant
Spanish Society for Experimental Psychology (SEPEX)
2025
FPU Predoctoral Fellowship
Ministry of Universities, Government of Spain
2021 – 2025
FPU Short Research Stay Grant (EEBB)
Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Ministry of Universities, Government of Spain
2024
Research Initiation Scholarship
Granada, Spain
University of Granada · Plan Propio de Investigación
2020 – 2021
Extraordinary End-of-Degree Award
Murcia, Spain
University of Murcia
2020
Collaboration Scholarship
Murcia, Spain
Spanish Ministry of Education · University of Murcia
2019 – 2020

Publications

Outreach publication

Preprints & Ongoing Work

Methods & Technical Expertise

Quantitative
Multilevel modelling, psychometrics, reliability analysis, meta-analysis, signal detection theory, computational modelling, reinforcement learning, multiverse inference.
Programming
R, Python, Julia, Stan, JavaScript.
Experimental
PsychoPy, E-Prime, OpenSesame, jsPsych, online behavioural testing.
Open Science
Preregistration, OSF, Git/GitHub, reproducible workflows, open materials and data.

Funded Projects

Understanding the Learning and Unlearning Dynamics of Myths about (Cyber)Violence Against Women
EUR 2,000
María de Maeztu Unit of Excellence – CIMCYC · UNLEARN-CVAW
Since 2026
Role: Co-PI.
Visiting Scholars Programme
EUR 12,000
University of Granada Visiting Scholars Programme · PPVS2025-01
2025 – 2027
Visiting scholar: Jan Theeuwes.
Responsible researcher: María Ruz Cámara.
Team: Juan Lupiáñez, David Richter, and Francisco Garre-Frutos.
Let's ROC: A generalization of Signal Detection Theory for the study of unconscious mental processes
EUR 150,000
Agencia Estatal de Investigación (MCIN/AEI) · PID2023-150830NB-I00
Since 2024
Role: Research team.
PI: Miguel A. Vadillo, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid.
Conceptual Analysis of Vigilance Decrement: Attentional Resources, Cognitive Control, and Mind-Wandering
EUR 177,250
Agencia Estatal de Investigación (MCIN/AEI) · PID2023-148421NB-I00
Since 2024
Role: Research team.
PI: Juan Lupiáñez, University of Granada.
Experimentally investigating the formation of new habits in humans
EUR 109,868
Agencia Estatal de Investigación (MCIN/AEI) · PID2021-126767NB-I00
2022 – 2025
Role: Research team.
PI: David Luque, University of Málaga.
Incentive salience and resistance to extinction in action control and selection
EUR 50,009
Agencia Estatal de Investigación (MCIN/AEI) · PID2021-127985NB-I00
2021 – 2025
Role: Research team.
PI: Felisa González, University of Granada.
Theoretical, behavioral, and functional analysis of executive and vigilance and its implementation in neural networks
EUR 157,300
Agencia Estatal de Investigación (MCIN/AEI) · PID2020-114790GB-I00
2021 – 2024
Role: Research team.
PI: Juan Lupiáñez, University of Granada.

Conference Presentations

Oral presentations
  • Garre-Frutos, F., Martínez-López, P., Ariza, A., Rey-Sáez, R., Luque, D., Vadillo, M. A., & González, F. (2026). Explicit knowledge modulates Pavlovian attentional biases. Invited talk, symposium Current Debates in Research on Habits, XV SEPEX & II Joint Meeting SEPEX–BAPS, Valencia, Spain, September 9–11.
  • Garre-Frutos, F., Franco-Martínez, A., Vadillo, M. A., & Rey-Sáez, R. (2026). A multilevel signal detection framework for unconscious processing research. Invited talk, symposium Experimental Psychometrics, XV SEPEX & II Joint Meeting SEPEX–BAPS, Valencia, Spain, September 9–11.
  • Franco-Martínez, A., Ferrer-Mendieta, A., Peiró Lanchares, C., Vadillo, M. A., & Garre-Frutos, F. (2026). What do we mean by “validity” in experimental measures? An illustrative study with the Perceptual Awareness Scale (PAS). Invited talk, symposium Experimental Psychometrics, XV SEPEX & II Joint Meeting SEPEX–BAPS, Valencia, Spain, September 9–11.
  • Martínez-López, P., Garre-Frutos, F., Vadillo, M. A., & Luque, D. (2026). Advancing credibility in habit research: No trust without valid measurement. Invited talk, symposium Experimental Psychometrics, XV SEPEX & II Joint Meeting SEPEX–BAPS, Valencia, Spain, September 9–11.
  • Garre-Frutos, F., Martínez-López, P., Rey-Sáez, R., Luque, D., Vadillo, M. A., & González, F. (2026). Explicit knowledge modulates Pavlovian attentional biases. APS Annual Convention, Barcelona, Spain, May 28–30.
  • Martínez-López, P., León, J. J., Garre-Frutos, F., Vázquez-Millán, A., Molinero, S., Giménez-Fernández, T., Vadillo, M. A., & Luque, D. (2026). Temporal stability in the expression of laboratory-based habits. Invited talk, symposium Mechanisms of Habit Formation and Expression: Cognitive, Neural, and Clinical Perspectives, APS Annual Convention, Barcelona, Spain, May 28–30.
  • Martínez-López, P., Garre-Frutos, F., León, J. J., Vázquez-Millán, A., Molinero, S., Pérez-Velasco, N., Vadillo, M. A., & Luque, D. (2025). Lingering habits: Testing the temporal stability of habits. XXXV International Congress of the Spanish Society for Comparative Psychology, Donostia / San Sebastián, Spain, October 1–3.
  • Garre-Frutos, F., Solana, P., Martínez-López, P., Lupiáñez, J., & Vadillo, M. A. (2025). Reliability and validity of experimental measures of value-driven attention: A meta-analysis on individual differences studies. XI Conference of the European Association of Methodology, Tenerife, Spain, July 23–25.
  • Franco-Martínez, A., Ferrer-Mendieta, A., Peiró-Lanchares, C., Garre-Frutos, F., & Vadillo, M. A. (2025). Choose your own PAS? Studying the validity of the Perceptual Awareness Scale. XI Conference of the European Association of Methodology, Tenerife, Spain, July 23–25.
  • Martínez-López, P., Garre-Frutos, F., Luque, D., & Vadillo, M. A. (2025). A systematic review and an internal consistency analysis of behavioral habit measures. XI Conference of the European Association of Methodology, Tenerife, Spain, July 23–25.
  • Garre-Frutos, F., Luque, D., Martínez-López, P., Lupiáñez, J., & Vadillo, M. A. (2025). Modelling learned attentional biases through Pavlovian learning. 14th Reunión Científica sobre Atención, Madrid, Spain, April 3–4.
  • Rey-Sáez, R., Garre-Frutos, F., & Vadillo, M. A. (2024). What psychometrics can offer to experimental psychology: The multilevel model as an heir of the factorial approach. XVIII Conference on Methodology of Social and Health Sciences, Seville, Spain, September 3–6.
  • Garre-Frutos, F., Vadillo, M. A., & Lupiáñez, J. (2024). An online replication and multiverse reliability analysis of value-modulated attentional capture. XIV SEPEX Conference, Almería, Spain, October 23–25.
  • Martínez-López, P., Garre-Frutos, F., Vadillo, M. A., & Luque, D. (2024). Evaluation of the permutation-based split-half reliability in experimental paradigms for habit induction in humans. XIV SEPEX Conference, Almería, Spain, October 23–25.
Poster presentations
  • Martínez-López, P., León, J. J., Garre-Frutos, F., Vázquez-Millán, A., Molinero, S., Giménez-Fernández, T., Vadillo, M. A., & Luque, D. (2026). Do we learn habits at the same rate in November as in March? Habits: Behaviour, Neurons and Clinical Evidence — First Meeting of the Experimental Psychology Network to Study Habits (REHPE), Madrid, Spain, June 15.
  • León, J. J., Martínez-López, P., Garre-Frutos, F., & Luque, D. (2026). Multiverse analysis of habit measurements in the forced-response task. Habits: Behaviour, Neurons and Clinical Evidence — First Meeting of the Experimental Psychology Network to Study Habits (REHPE), Madrid, Spain, June 15.
  • Garre-Frutos, F., Vadillo, M. A., Theeuwes, J., Van Moorselaar, D., & Lupiáñez, J. (2025). Selective attention and explicit awareness independently contribute to the learning process of reward-related attentional biases. 28th Annual Meeting of the Association for the Scientific Study of Consciousness, Heraklion, Greece, July 6–9.
  • Rey-Sáez, R., Garre-Frutos, F., Franco-Martínez, A., Castillejo, I., & Vadillo, M. A. (2025). Addressing methodological challenges in unconscious process research: A hierarchical modeling approach. 28th Annual Meeting of the Association for the Scientific Study of Consciousness, Heraklion, Greece, July 6–9.
  • Rey-Sáez, R., Garre-Frutos, F., Franco-Martínez, A., Castillejo, I., & Vadillo, M. A. (2025). Hierarchical models in experimental psychology: A solution for measuring unconscious psychological processes. 14th Reunión Científica sobre Atención, Madrid, Spain, April 3–4.
  • Garre-Frutos, F., Vadillo, M. A., Theeuwes, J., Van Moorselaar, D., & Lupiáñez, J. (2025). Selective attention and explicit awareness independently contribute to the learning process of reward-related attentional biases. Meetings of the Alhambra: The Cognitive Neuroscience of Consciousness, Granada, Spain, April 25–26.
  • Garre-Frutos, F., Luque, D., Martínez-López, P., Lupiáñez, J., & Vadillo, M. A. (2025). Modelling Pavlovian attentional biases through reinforcement learning. Reinforcement Learning and Decision-Making Conference, Dublin, Ireland, June 11–14.
  • Garre-Frutos, F., Vadillo, M. A., Martínez-López, P., Ariza, A., González, F., & Lupiáñez, J. (2025). Implicit learning effects on attentional control and capture. VII Jornadas de Investigación CIMCYC, Granada, Spain, June 5.
  • Ariza, A., Garre-Frutos, F., & González, F. (2025). Persistence of incentive salience: Devaluation of Pavlovian-to-instrumental transfer (PIT) and reversal of value-modulated attentional capture (VMAC). XXXV International Congress of the Spanish Society for Comparative Psychology, Donostia / San Sebastián, Spain, October 1–3.
  • Ariza, A., Garre-Frutos, F., & González, F. (2024). Persistence of the value-modulated attentional capture (VMAC) effect using a reward-only variant task and specific extinction of the increase-signal in reward magnitude. XXXIV International Conference of the Spanish Society for Comparative Psychology, Baeza, Spain, September 25–27.
  • Garre-Frutos, F., Vadillo, M. A., Botta, F., & Lupiáñez, J. (2024). The role of informational value on value-modulated attentional capture. 27th Annual Meeting of the Association for the Scientific Study of Consciousness, Tokyo, Japan, July 2–5.
  • Garre-Frutos, F., Lupiáñez, J., & Vadillo, M. A. (2024). Is there value in value-driven distraction? A meta-analysis of studies on individual differences. XIV SEPEX Conference, Almería, Spain, October 23–25.
  • Garre-Frutos, F., Lupiáñez, J., & Vadillo, M. A. (2024). Value-modulated attentional capture depends on explicit awareness. XIV SEPEX Conference, Almería, Spain, October 23–25.
  • Ariza, A., Martínez-López, P., Garre-Frutos, F., Luque, D., Vadillo, M. A., & González, F. (2024). Explicit knowledge modulates reversal learning in value-modulated attentional capture. XIV SEPEX Conference, Almería, Spain, October 23–25.
  • Martínez-López, P., Vázquez-Millán, A., Garre-Frutos, F., & Luque, D. (2024). Using a forced-response task to measure habit formation in humans. XIV SEPEX Conference, Almería, Spain, October 23–25.
  • Garre-Frutos, F., & Lupiáñez, J. (2023). Inhibition of return and learned value. 23rd Conference of the European Society for Cognitive Psychology, Porto, Portugal, August 24–27.
  • Manini, G., Garre-Frutos, F., Botta, F., Martín-Arévalo, E., & Lupiáñez, J. (2023). Interference vs. distraction: Qualitatively different attentional capture effects depending on distractor relevance. 23rd Conference of the European Society for Cognitive Psychology, Porto, Portugal, August 24–27.
  • Ariza, A., Martínez-López, P., Garre-Frutos, F., & González, F. (2023). Incentive salience and action control and selection: Individual differences. Jornadas de Investigación 10º Aniversario CIMCYC: Pasado, Presente y Futuro, Granada, Spain, May 11.
  • Garre-Frutos, F., Hinojosa-Aguayo, I., González, F., Vadillo, M. A., & Lupiáñez, J. (2022). A VMAC online replication and multiverse reliability analysis. International APPE–SEPEX Meeting, Faro, Portugal, May 5–7.

Academic Events Organized

How do I preregister my study? A hands-on workshop
Valencia, Spain
Workshop · XV SEPEX & II Joint Meeting SEPEX–BAPS
2026
II CIMCYC Workshop on computational modelling of behavioral data
Granada, Spain
Workshop · Mind, Brain, and Behavior Research Center
2025
CIMCYC Workshop on Learning and Attention
Granada, Spain
Workshop · Mind, Brain, and Behavior Research Center
2025
Measuring individual differences with experimental tasks: current pitfalls and future directions
Almería, Spain
Symposium · XIV SEPEX Conference
2024

Teaching

Attention and Memory
6 ECTS
Universitat Oberta de Catalunya
2025 – 2026
Degree: BSc Psychology.
Behavioural Analysis and Motor Development in Physical Activity
4 ECTS
University of Granada
2024 – 2025
Degree: BSc in Physical Activity and Sport Sciences.
Perception and Attention
3 ECTS/year
University of Granada
2022/23 – 2023/24
Degree: BSc Psychology.

Student Supervision

María López Machuca
University of Granada
BSc student mentoring
2026
Project: Continuous-tracking of subjective report methods of conscious experience.
Co-supervisors: Daniel Sanabria and Francisco Garre-Frutos.
Pablo Martínez-López
University of Granada
MSc thesis supervision
2023
Project: Within-Subjects Experimental Study of Individual Differences in Value-Modulated Attentional Capture (VMAC) and its Reversal.
Co-supervisors: Felisa González and Francisco Garre-Frutos.
Adriana Ariza
University of Granada
MSc thesis supervision
2023
Project: Pavlovian-to-Instrumental Transfer and Implicit Emotion Regulation.
Co-supervisors: Felisa González and Francisco Garre-Frutos.

Specialized Training

Tenth Summer School on Statistical Methods for Linguistics and Psychology (SMLP): Advanced Methods in Frequentist Statistics with Julia
Aug. 2026
University of Potsdam, Germany · 40 hours
Barcelona Summer School on Advanced Modeling of Behavior (BAMB 2026)
Jul. 2026
Centre de Recerca Matemàtica (CRM), Barcelona · 92.5 hours
Electroencephalography (EEG): Preprocessing and Introduction to Univariate and Multivariate Analyses
Mar. 2025
University of Granada · 21 hours
Annual JAGS Workshop: Bayesian Modeling for Cognitive Science
Jul. 2024
University of Amsterdam · 140 hours
Seventh Summer School on Statistical Methods for Linguistics and Psychology (SMLP): Advanced Bayesian Data Analysis
Sept. 2023
University of Potsdam, Germany · 40 hours
CIMCYC Workshop on Computational Modelling of Behavioral Data
Jun. 2022
CIMCYC · University of Granada · 9 hours

Academic Service & Memberships

Recommender
PCI Registered Reports
Editorial service
Since 2026
Role: Handling editor for Stage 1 and Stage 2 Registered Reports at Peer Community In Registered Reports (PCI RR).
Junior Editor
Psicológica
Editorial service
Since 2025
Role: Conduct initial editorial assessments of submissions for suitability for peer review, with a focus on reporting quality, transparency, and reproducibility.
Ad hoc reviewer
Peer review
Journals: Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, Psychological Research, Behavior Research Methods, Learning & Motivation, and Frontiers in Cognition.
Professional Societies
Professional memberships
Memberships: Association for Psychological Science; Sociedad Española de Psicología Experimental; Association for the Scientific Study of Consciousness.

Outreach Activities

Psychobeers
Public engagement
Role: Organizing committee member for public engagement events connecting cognitive science and psychology with general audiences.
European Night of the Researchers
Science communication
Activity: Participant in Así funciona tu atención (y así te engaña), focused on communicating attention research to the public.