Research
Molecular and cellular and systems mechanisms of learning and memory
Appointments
- Distinguished Professor– Neurobiology, Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences and Psychology
- Director–Integrative Center for Learning and Memory
- Tennenbaum Center for the Biology of Creativity
- Brain Research Institute
- Molecular, Cellular & Integrative Physiology GPB Home Area
- Neuroscience GPB Home Area
Biography
The Silva laboratory is studying the biology of learning and memory. They are interested in the molecular, cellular and circuit processes that underlie the allocation, encoding and storage of information. To accomplish this they are using a variety of techniques including sophisticated molecular and genetic approaches, optical physiology, optogenetics, in vivo imaging and behavioral analysis.
Silva and colleagues have also studied the impact of these mechanisms in animal models of cognitive disorders, including intellectual disabilities. Based on these mechanistic studies, they have developed treatments for Neurofibromatosis type I and Tuberous Sclerosis, that are currently being tested in clinical trials.
The Silva laboratory is also developing bioinformatic strategies for tracking and planning experiments (researchmaps.org).
Publications
- Vidal, JAD, Charlesworth, D, Ma, WJ, Zhou, Q, Utsunomia, R, Gomes, AJB et al.. Investigating the evolution of large meiotic rings of multiple X and Y sex chromosomes in two Leptodactylus frog species (Anura, Leptodactylidae). Commun Biol. 2025;8 (1):1636. doi: 10.1038/s42003-025-09151-z. PubMed PMID:41272176 .
- Fleischmann, A, Rabelo, R, Tregidgo, D, Benitz, T, Viana, FMF, de Lima Franco, D et al.. Unprecedented social-ecological impacts of the 2023 extreme drought in the central Amazon. Sci Rep. 2025;15 (1):41239. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-25125-x. PubMed PMID:41271902 .
- da Costa Fernandes, CJ, da Cruz Rodrigues, VC, de Sá Pereira, GJ, de Melo, DG, de Campos, TDP, Dos Santos Canciglieri, R et al.. Epigenetically modulated MTCH2 and regulated ATP5 in the liver of obese mice subjected to strength training. Life Sci. 2025; :124105. doi: 10.1016/j.lfs.2025.124105. PubMed PMID:41270824 .
- Gomes Netto, WB, Sousa, SS, Nakamaru, SMB, Philippsen, HK, de Castro Silva, D, Costa, DKD et al.. PanGeneWhale - A dockerized Kotlin-based GUI platform for reproducible and user-friendly pangenomic analysis. Comput Biol Chem. 2025;120 (Pt 1):108779. doi: 10.1016/j.compbiolchem.2025.108779. PubMed PMID:41270546 .
- da Rocha, VME, Wille, APB, Silva, APSE, Gularte, MS, Soares, MP, Silveira, MM et al.. Sprayable Cellulose and Mannan Nanocrystals from Ivory Nuts for Treatment of Skin Diseases in Mice. ACS Appl Bio Mater. 2025; :. doi: 10.1021/acsabm.5c01708. PubMed PMID:41270232 .