The Mind, Brain and Behavior Research Center (CIMCYC) steadily strengthens international excellence by collaborating with top-tier scientific talent.
Throughout 2026 and 2027, the CIMCYC will host several prominent international researchers thanks to the University of Granada’s Visiting Scholars program. This initiative, designed to enhance the research capacity and professional networks of UGR groups, funds research stays of renowned scholars to carry out collaboration plans focused on cutting-edge research.
These research stays aim to increase the impact and multidisciplinarity of our scientific activities. The collaboration between research groups and visiting scholars will result in milestones such as training opportunities, communication of results in relevant journals and international conferences, and outreach activities. These visiting scholars will also strengthen institutional ties between the CIMCYC and other prestigious universities and research centers, facilitating the development of joint projects.
Dolores Albarracín
Dolores Albarracín is professor at the University of Pennsylvania and Director of the Communication Science division at the Annenberg Public Policy Center. She is one of the most influential figures in contemporary social psychology. Specializing in persuasion processes, attitudes and behavior change, she has developed an extensive career studying science communication and evidence-based interventions to promote public health and sustainability. With more than 200 articles in top-tier journals, six reference books and over 38,000 academic citations, her leadership has received international recognitions such as the BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award (2025) and the Diener Award in Social Psychology (2020).
During her stay in Granada, Professor Albarracín will work closely with Professor María del Carmen Aguilar Luzón (Department of Social Psychology and CIMCYC researcher) within the framework of the MAPCCA Project (Persuasive Frameworks for Climate Change in Andalusia). This initiative addresses the psychosocial challenges arising from climate change in the Andalusian region—such as eco-anxiety, misinformation and lack of institutional trust—and seeks to develop effective, culturally adapted communication strategies to encourage mitigation and citizen adaptation behaviors.
The collaboration includes at least three research stays, the hosting of international workshops on persuasion and behavior change, and seminars by Professor Albarracín and CIMCYC researchers addressing topics related to the psychology of misinformation.
This partnership offers the CIMCYC a strategic opportunity to solidify its global standing in social psychology applied to climate change and pave the way for interdisciplinary research and training in sustainability and science communication.
Elena L. Grigorenko
Professor Elena L. Grigorenko is an internationally renowned researcher whose academic background is exceptionally diverse, holding PhDs in Cognitive Psychology (Moscow) and Genetics and Development (Yale), with a specialization in Forensic Clinical Psychology (Fielding). Currently, she is affiliated with prestigious institutions such as the Baylor College of Medicine, the University of Houston and Yale University. Her profile combines clinical excellence with top-tier scientific output.
Dr. Grigorenko has published more than 600 works, including widely cited books and articles in journals such as Nature, Science and Cell. Her leadership extends to high-level editorial and evaluation roles, most notably serving as Chair of the “Human Mind Complexity” panel of the European Research Council (ERC, 2017–2022).
Her work is defined by a multifaceted vision of human development. Focused on child well-being, she has analyzed mental health from clinical and developmental perspectives. Her research centers on individual differences in cognition, including their etiology and manifestation across different languages and cultures. Her contributions are notable in the scientific study of reading and atypical developmental trajectories. Recently, she has become interested in the development of cultural identity in multicultural populations and its interaction with language and cognition. In addition to co-founding and directing the Texas Center for Learning Disabilities, her fieldwork has a truly global reach, including clinical projects with families in Kenya, India, Saudi Arabia and Russia.
During her stay, she will work on a research project studying cultural identity and multilingualism. She will collaborate with members of the Memory and Language group, led by researcher Teresa Bajo. She will also conduct research workshops on reading in multilingual and multicultural contexts.
The collaboration with Professor Grigorenko will provide a significant boost to the development of new research lines focused on the development of cultural identity and the influence of language and cognition. Furthermore, her expertise in diverse methods (computational, genetics, epigenetics and fMRI) will enrich the group’s activities.
Jan Theeuwes
Jan Theeuwes is a professor of Cognitive Psychology at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. With degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Experimental Psychology, he began his career at TNO Human Factors, where he conducted applied research on traffic safety. He was next appointed full professor in Amsterdam, being honored with election to the prestigious Royal Dutch Academy of Sciences (KNAW). He has also served as the president of the European Society for Cognitive Psychology (ESCOP), coordinator of the newly established European Consortium for Psychological Science, and panel member of the ERC Advanced Grant Committee SH4.
Prof. Theeuwes is widely recognized for his groundbreaking work in the study of attentional and oculomotor control, particularly in understanding how individuals manage visual distraction by salient stimuli. He has published numerous research articles on perception, attention, memory, emotion and traffic safety. His work has appeared in prestigious journals including Nature Human Behavior, Nature Communications, PLOS Computational Biology, eLife, Journal of Neuroscience, Trends in Cognitive Sciences, Journal of Experimental Psychology and Psychological Science.
His research has been supported by numerous grants, including two highly competitive Advanced European Research Council (ERC) grants: the first in 2012, focusing on reward processing and the second in 2019, investigating statistical learning.
Prof. Theeuwes will perform several research stays at the CIMCYC where he will collaborate with Juan Lupiáñez, David Richter, Francisco Garre and María Ruz on research focused on behavioral and neurobiological factors underlying attentional capture. He will also offer seminars on applied human factors, and will meet with other CIMCYC researchers with aligned interests.
Stephen C. Wright
Professor Steve Wright is a leading figure in the field of social psychology. He is recognized as a primary authority on collective action, intergroup contact and its consequences for intergroup relations. He has received prestigious honors such as the Gordon Allport Award, granted by the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (SPSSI).
The Intergroup Relations and Social Justice Lab, directed by Professor Wright, is internationally recognized as a premier center for advancing the study of social identities and alliances between advantaged and disadvantaged groups. One of Professor Wright’s core research interests focuses on the cognitive, emotional and behavioral consequences of being a target of discrimination. His work has not only shed light on the profound impact of prejudice and discrimination on members of disadvantaged groups but has also explored the complex ways in which these individuals respond to inequality. His research on collective action and social protest has provided valuable insights into the conditions that lead members of marginalized groups to seek social change, accept their situation or take individual action to improve their standing.
Furthermore, Professor Wright’s research has explored the critical issue of prejudice reduction, with a particular focus on the power of intergroup contact and the transformative role of intergroup friendships. His work highlights the potential of interpersonal relationships to bridge divides and foster greater understanding among diverse individuals. Professor Wright has also demonstrated a deep commitment to issues involving minority language and culture. His extensive fieldwork in the eastern Canadian Arctic and his investigations into the role of the language of instruction in public schools have far-reaching implications for our understanding of multiculturalism, multilingualism and educational policy.
Professor Wright’s will collaborate primarily with the Psychology of Social Change Lab, directed by Soledad de Lemus. He will also work with the Psychology of Inequality Lab and the Psychology of Social Problems Group. During his first visit in February 2025, he engaged in mentoring activities with CIMCYC researchers such as Danna Galván, focusing on the alliances between the LGBTQ+ and feminist communities (across Spain, Canada, Poland and Germany). In February 2026, Professor Wright will spend one-month at the CIMCYC to continue working on joint projects and to participate in a Small Group Meeting funded by the Visiting Scholars program and the European Association of Social Psychology (EASP). He will be accompanied by his doctoral student, Maitland Wadell, to collaborate on these joint initiatives.
Academic Publications
- Galván-Hernández, D., Estevan-Reina, L., del Fresno-Díaz, Á., Frohn, F., Wright, S., & de Lemus, S. (2025). Bridging the divide: Understanding the psychological factors influencing feminist women’s support to transgender related policies. Political Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1111/pops.70032
Previous Visiting Scholars at the CIMCYC
Laurel Trainor (2022–2025)
Professor Laurel Trainor is a leading figure in the fields of psychology, neuroscience and music perception. She is Professor at McMaster University, Founder and Director of the McMaster Institute for Music & the Mind (MIMM), Senior Fellow at CIFAR and Research Scientist at the Rotman Research Institute. Her research focuses on the neuroscience of auditory development and music perception, with over 200 publications in top journals such as Science, Nature or Journal of Neuroscience.
Trainor has secured major grants from national and international agencies, including the Canadian Foundation for Innovation and the Grammy Foundation, managing projects totaling more than $4 million CAD. She pioneered the creation of the LIVELab, a unique world-class facility for studying music and movement in controlled acoustic environments, enabling cutting-edge research on social interaction, health interventions and auditory technology.
Laurel Trainor’s trajectory exemplifies scientific leadership, innovation, and interdisciplinary impact, making her a reference in music cognition and developmental neuroscience worldwide. Her work has transformed the understanding of musical development, demonstrating that infants acquire musical systems similarly to language and that rhythmic synchronization fosters prosocial behavior. She is a frequent keynote speaker, widely featured in global media (BBC, NYT, National Geographic), and combines her scientific expertise with artistic excellence as principal flutist in Symphony Hamilton.
Through the collaboration with Professor Laurel Trainor’s group, the CIMCYC has strengthened its partnership with the Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour at McMaster University (Canada), specifically with the McMaster Institute for Music & the Mind (MIMM). During her time as a Visiting Scholar, Professor Trainor visited the CIMCYC on three occasions. In turn, CIMCYC researcher Rafael Román-Caballero completed two long-term research stays at McMaster.
This collaboration has allowed the CIMCYC to establish a global presence in the field of Music Psychology through high-prestige international partnerships. There is a strategic goal to establish a research line in Music Psychology at the CIMCYC, modeled after the MIMM and directed by Rafael Román-Caballero.
Associated Projects and Academic Publications
- Marie Skłodowska-Curie Global Project, HE-HORIZON-MSCA-2023-PF-01, titled MusicalSpeech - Distinguishing infant-directed speech and songs: The distinctive evolution of acoustic features and visual entrainment in infants. Developed by Rafael Román Caballero at the McMaster Institute for Music and the Mind and the CIMCYC, from April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2027, mentored by Professor Laurel Trainor and Professor Juan Lupiáñez.
- Grassi, M., … , Román-Caballero, R., …, Trainor, L. and Zappa, A. (2025). Do Musicians Have Better Short-Term Memory Than Nonmusicians? A Multilab Study. Advances in Methods and Practices in Psychological Science, 8(4). https://doi.org/10.1177/25152459251379432
- Román-Caballero, R., Trujillo, L., Martín-Sánchez, P. d. C., Trainor, L. J., Huertas, F., Martín-Arévalo, E. and Lupiáñez, J. (2025). Relative age effect in formal musical training. Cognitive Development, 75. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cogdev.2025.101603
- Román-Caballero, R., Vadillo, M. A., Trainor, L. J. and Lupiáñez, J. (2022). Please don't stop the music: A meta-analysis of the cognitive and academic benefits of instrumental musical training in childhood and adolescence. Educational Research Review, 35. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.edurev.2022.100436