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
- Xavier, SP, Victor, A, Gotine, AREM, Mahoche, M, Rondó, PH, da Silva, AMC et al.. Survival analysis of under-five mortality predictors: evidence from the 2011 and 2022/23 mozambique demographic and health surveys. BMC Public Health. 2026; :. doi: 10.1186/s12889-026-27197-4. PubMed PMID:42035028 .
- De Silva, A, Carver, NS, Grover, FM, Davis, T, Haskell, A, Silva, PL et al.. Working Together: Synergistic Predictors of Dyadic Performance in a Shared Force-Production Task. Motor Control. 2026; :1-19. doi: 10.1123/mc.2025-0076. PubMed PMID:42034349 .
- Soares, M, Furst, L, Cipoli, Y, Silva, A, Evtyugina, M, Vicente, E et al.. Lung alveolar cell reactivity to organic fractions extracted from air particulate matter collected in an African megacity. Environ Pollut. 2026; :128193. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2026.128193. PubMed PMID:42031202 .
- Vu, T, Habib, AA, Jacob, S, Mantegazza, R, Murai, H, Vissing, J et al.. Efficacy and safety of cemdisiran siRNA in myasthenia gravis (NIMBLE): a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial. Lancet. 2026; :. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(26)00690-2. PubMed PMID:42030965 .
- do Carmo, JM, Hall, JE, Ladnier, E, Dai, X, Wang, Z, Mouton, AJ et al.. Parental obesity exacerbates cognitive dysfunction and cardiac vulnerability in offspring of an Alzheimer disease model. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2026; :. doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.00047.2026. PubMed PMID:42030244 .