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
- Monteiro Magalhães, ACCM, Correia, PMM, Encarnação, PMCDCD, Veloso, JFCA, Silva, A. Simulations of a new PET scanner for 3D Proton Therapy Quality Assurance. Biomed Phys Eng Express. 2025; :. doi: 10.1088/2057-1976/ae1747. PubMed PMID:41135542 .
- Cristóvão, MB, Sério, J, Marques, AP, Bento-Silva, A, Gossard, M, Vergara-Diaz, O et al.. Treatment of wastewater effluents using nanofiltration and low pressure UV photolysis to produce high quality water for food production. Water Res. 2025;289 (Pt A):124782. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2025.124782. PubMed PMID:41135497 .
- Zavascki, AP, Chebabo, A, Cunha, CA, Silva, AR, Cuba, GT, Santos, DWCL et al.. Guideline for antimicrobial treatment of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative infections: practice recommendations of the Brazilian Society of Infectious Diseases. Braz J Infect Dis. 2025;29 (6):104589. doi: 10.1016/j.bjid.2025.104589. PubMed PMID:41130038 .
- Ferst, JG, Chaves, MA, Silva, AN, Saldanha, SF, Ferreira, R, Nociti, RP et al.. Uterine Extracellular Vesicles Can Emulate the Long-Term Effects of Post-Partum Negative Energy Balance in Dairy Cows. Mol Reprod Dev. 2025;92 (10):e70062. doi: 10.1002/mrd.70062. PubMed PMID:41128104 PubMed Central PMC12548006.
- Silva, AR, Keevil, CW, Pereira, A. Legionella affects biofilm structural response to detachment upon shear stress increase. Biofilm. 2025;10 :100323. doi: 10.1016/j.bioflm.2025.100323. PubMed PMID:41127792 PubMed Central PMC12538127.