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
- Costa, RJ, Marconi, CSC, Jesus, GK, Franco, GO, Silva, AM, Arriaga, MB et al.. Diagnostic Accuracy of Real Time Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction for Chikungunya Virus Detection: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Trop Med Int Health. 2026; :. doi: 10.1111/tmi.70203. PubMed PMID:42456764 .
- Attard, C, Silva, AM, Ahmed, S, Wong, BLH, Sultana, R, Albanese, E et al.. Designing interdisciplinary education in digital public health: a position paper. Front Public Health. 2026;14 :1866630. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1866630. PubMed PMID:42454296 PubMed Central PMC13365167.
- Silva, AL, Dos Santos, TP, Marinho, AV, Leite, L, Jorge, E, Silva, J et al.. Late postoperative aortic valve pop-out after transcatheter aortic valve implantation: successful rescue with double-snare repositioning and redo-transcatheter aortic valve implantation. J Geriatr Cardiol. 2026;23 (6):382-384. doi: 10.26599/1671-5411.2026.06.004. PubMed PMID:42454206 PubMed Central PMC13365905.
- Santos Filipe, M, Isca, VMS, André, R, Pires, TCSP, Silva, AR, Bangay, G et al.. Ethnopharmacological Validation of Selected Coleus and Plectranthus spp. For Skin-Related Applications Through In Vitro Biological Assays. Plants (Basel). 2026;15 (13):. doi: 10.3390/plants15131975. PubMed PMID:42452182 .
- Tavares, V, Silva, ACL, Xavier, AF, de Melo, IG, Ferreira, T, Pires, MM et al.. Vitamin D Receptor rs731236 Polymorphism Modulates Cancer Cachexia Susceptibility and Overall Survival: A Real-World Study on Context-Dependent Vitamin D Signalling. Int J Mol Sci. 2026;27 (13):. doi: 10.3390/ijms27135816. PubMed PMID:42450089 .