Fabrice Parmentier

Dr. Fabrice Parmentier is a Full Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of the Balearic Islands (UIB), Spain. He is based in the Basic Psychology area and is an active member of the Neuropsychology and Cognition (Neurocog) research group and the Bilingualism and Spanish Language Acquisition (BASLA) group. His work is affiliated with the University's Research Institute for Health Sciences (iUNICS) and the Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Palma (IdISPa).

His research focuses on the cognitive mechanisms underlying attention, memory, and executive functions. He investigates how these processes are affected by unexpected auditory stimuli, emotional states, physical activity, mindfulness, and neurological conditions. His methodological approach integrates controlled laboratory experiments with neuropsychological assessments across the lifespan.

The recent publications highlight a strong trend in auditory distraction, particularly how unexpected sounds disrupt eye movements, inhibit motor responses, and influence cognitive control. These studies fall within experimental cognitive psychology and cognitive neuroscience, with implications for understanding attentional disorders, human factors, and real-world performance in complex environments.

• Herramientas para el diagnóstico temprano de la demencia y cómo afectan los estilos de vida y el bilingüismo en los primeros síntomas (IdISPa, 2015–2018)
• La actividad física como factor protector del envejecimiento cognitivo (Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, 2011–2014)
• Toward a more integrative understanding of distraction by unexpected sounds (Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, 2015–2018)
• A study of the relationship between mindfulness, distraction and brain stimulation (Bial Foundation, 2015–2017)
• An empirical study of behavioral distraction by auditory novelty (Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, 2010–2013)
• Warning! Investigating what auditory alarms affect attention and performance in complex settings (Swedish Council for Working Life and Social Research, 2012–2016)

Dr. Parmentier supervises master's theses and research training in the Master's Degree in Human Cognition and Evolution and the Master's Degree in Cognition and Society. He teaches undergraduate courses such as Perception and Attention and mentors undergraduate involvement in research. He is actively involved in securing external funding and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration.

He is a core member of the Neurocog research group, which emphasizes experimental approaches to cognition and welcomes PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers. The lab promotes a collaborative and enthusiastic environment for cognitive research and encourages student participation in ongoing projects.