 Projects
Our laboratory studies memory and how it fails. We use a variety of techniques and approaches that allow us to follow interesting questions from molecular mechanisms to the cells they affect, the circuits and neuroanatomy they modulate, all the way to behavioral studies in rodents and patients. Our field of study is Molecular and Cellular Cognition. Our projects include:
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Understanding cognition: what does that mean?
see our studies on S2 >>
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A few highlights of our projects...
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 Multiple memory mechanisms
Our results implicate a variety of hippocampal and cortical mechanisms in learning and memory, including long-term potentiation, short-term plasticity, GABA inhibition and the slow afterhyperpolarization. Although most of our studies have been focused on hippocampus and amygdala memory, we have also studied the mechanisms responsible for remote memory storage in the cortex.
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Memory allocation: a new question for an old problem
 Recently, we have studied how memories are allocated in neuronetworks. There is very little known about the rules that determine why one cell becomes engaged in storing a given memory while others in the same network do not. We found that CREB levels are one of determinants of this process. Now, we are using in vivo imaging to track this process in behaving mice.
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 Beyond mechanisms: the development of treatmentsOur laboratory is developing treatments for learning and memory disorders, such as those associated with learning disabilities. For example, recently we have uncovered the mechanisms responsible for the learning deficits in NF1 and TSC and used these findings to develop treatments that we are now testing in clinical trials.
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For descriptions of our projects click on one of the links below...
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Projects · Approaches · Publications · Lab Members · Alcino J. Silva · Awards · Lab Pictures · Open Positions · aboutus · Contact us
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