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
- Venkadesh, S, Tian, Y, Linn, WJ, Martinez, JB, Mansour, H, Cook, J et al.. A common cross-species atlas of cortical gray matter. bioRxiv. 2025; :. doi: 10.1101/2025.09.08.675002. PubMed PMID:40964338 PubMed Central PMC12439950.
- Camargo-Júnior, RNC, de Araújo, CV, Gomes, MNB, Marques, JRF, da Silva, WC, Sousa, CEL et al.. Comparison between linear mixed model and threshold model in the estimation of variance components in age at first calving and milk production in buffaloes. Front Vet Sci. 2025;12 :1649690. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1649690. PubMed PMID:40963591 PubMed Central PMC12439612.
- Ambrosio, IS, Silva, AS, Santos, ALR, Assunção, RMN, Faria, AM. Thermally immobilized cellulose acetate butyrate on silica particles as stationary phase for high-performance liquid chromatography. An Acad Bras Cienc. 2025;97 (3):e20241225. doi: 10.1590/0001-3765202520241225. PubMed PMID:40960767 .
- Silva, AMD, Falcão, MML, Freitas, VS, Vieira, AR. Polymorphisms and environmental factors associated with orofacial clefts as potential markers for oral cancer risk. Braz Oral Res. 2025;39 :e089. doi: 10.1590/1807-3107bor-2025.vol39.089. PubMed PMID:40960755 .
- Young, GR, Noor, N, Khirwadkar, A, Beck, LC, Sharip, MT, Whelan, K et al.. Gut microbiome comparability between DNA extraction kits. Gut. 2025; :. doi: 10.1136/gutjnl-2025-336648. PubMed PMID:40957661 .