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
- Gholizadeh, F, Silva, AGSD, Samuel, A, Molnár, Z, Janda, T. Chitosan and Microalgae Nanoparticles: Synergistic Role in Enhancing Drought Stress Tolerance in Wheat Seedlings. Plants (Basel). 2026;15 (5):. doi: 10.3390/plants15050792. PubMed PMID:41829823 .
- Silva, AGD, Pereira, E, Almeida, VH, Pinto, LD, Souza, JL, Tilli, TM et al.. Inflammasome Activation by Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs) in the MDA-MB-231 Human Breast Cancer Cell Line. Int J Mol Sci. 2026;27 (5):. doi: 10.3390/ijms27052230. PubMed PMID:41828456 .
- da Silva, AMP, Januário Campos Cardoso, L, Batista, S, Gonçalves, OR, Paranhos, T, Teixeira, IPS et al.. Tirzepatide versus semaglutide for the prevention of mild cognitive impairment, dementia, and Alzheimer's disease in type 2 diabetes: A real-world, retrospective cohort study. J Diabetes Complications. 2026;40 (5):109306. doi: 10.1016/j.jdiacomp.2026.109306. PubMed PMID:41825212 .
- Mylavarapu, M, Batra, A, Garcia, I, Balasubramanian, A, Husnain, MA, Atla, RH et al.. Mediterranean diet versus low-fat diet on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors and outcomes: A systematic review of RCTs. Medicine (Baltimore). 2026;105 (11):e47971. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000047971. PubMed PMID:41824891 .
- Niriella, MA, Wijesingha, IP, Prabagar, K, Abeynayake, D, Jayasena, H, Herath, PR et al.. Evaluating the quality of social media content on metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease: An experience from a lower middle-income country. PLoS One. 2026;21 (3):e0343573. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0343573. PubMed PMID:41824425 .