Francisco Garre-Frutos

POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER·EXPERIMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY

Madrid, Spain

fgfrutos@gmail.com·franfrutos.github.io·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
Distinction: Outstanding Undergraduate Award.

Research Experience

Postdoctoral Researcher
Madrid, Spain
Autonomous University of Madrid · Cognition, Attention & Learning Lab (CALL)
Since 2026
Postdoctoral Researcher
Granada, Spain
University of Granada · Mind, Brain & Behavior Research Center (CIMCYC)
2026
Predoctoral Researcher (FPU Fellow)
Granada, Spain
University of Granada · Ministry of Science and Innovation
Nov. 2021 – Dec. 2025
Visiting Researcher
Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam · Jan Theeuwes Lab
Sept. 2024 – Dec. 2024
Research Scholarship
Granada, Spain
University of Granada
Sept. 2020 – Jul. 2021
Research Scholarship
Murcia, Spain
University of Murcia
Sept. 2019 – Jul. 2020

Methods & Technical Expertise

Quantitative
Multilevel modelling, psychometrics, reliability analysis, meta-analysis, signal detection theory, computational modelling, reinforcement learning, multiverse inference.
Programming
R, Python, JavaScript, Julia, Stan.
Experimental Tools
PsychoPy, E-Prime, OpenSesame, jsPsych, online behavioural testing, JASP, Jamovi.
Reproducibility
OSF, preregistration, Quarto/Markdown, Git/GitHub workflows, open materials and data sharing.

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
Escuela de Doctorado de Ciencias de la Salud, University of Granada · 21 hours
Annual JAGS Workshop: Bayesian Modeling for Cognitive Science
Jul. 2024
Psychological Methods Group, 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
Mind, Brain, and Behavior Research Center (CIMCYC), University of Granada · 9 hours

Publications

Outreach publication
  • Garre-Frutos, F. (2025). Is wanting enough? Control and automaticity in learned attentional biases. Ciencia Cognitiva, 19(1), 8–10.

Ongoing Work

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 with Rocío Vizcaíno-Cuenca.
Scheme: Support Program for New Collaborative Projects for Early-Career Researchers.
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., López-Martínez, 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., 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., López-Martínez, 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 Pavlovian attentional biases through reinforcement 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
  • 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., & 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. (2025). The role of selective attention and explicit awareness in reward-related attentional biases. Meetings of the Alhambra: The Cognitive Neuroscience of Consciousness, Granada, Spain, April 25–26.
  • Garre-Frutos, F. (2025). Modelling Pavlovian attentional biases through reinforcement learning. Reinforcement Learning and Decision-Making Conference, Dublin, Ireland, June 11–14.
  • Garre-Frutos, F., & Ariza, A. (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. 22nd 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. 22nd Conference of the European Society for Cognitive Psychology, Porto, Portugal, August 24–27.
  • 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.

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: On the Nature of Conscious Experience: A Comparison of Subjective Report Methods.
Supervisors: Daniel Sanabria Lucena 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.
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.
Supervisors: Felisa González and Francisco Garre-Frutos.

Academic Events Organized

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 Congreso de la Sociedad Española de Psicología Experimental
2024

Academic Service & Professional Memberships

Junior Editor, Psicológica
Psicológica
Editorial service
Since 2025
Journal: Psicológica.
Role: Junior editorial role supporting the journal's peer-review and editorial workflow.
Ad hoc reviewer
3 journals
Peer review
Since 2025
Journals: Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, Psychological Research, and Behavior Research Methods.
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.