Alcino Silva, Ph.D.
Titles
Director, Behavioral Testing Core
Distinguished Professor, Psychology
Behavioral Neuroscience
Director, ICLM
Distinguished Professor, Tennenbaum Center for the Biology of Creativity
Neurobiology
Member, Brain Research Institute
Medical Informatics GPB Home Area
Molecular, Cellular & Integrative Physiology GPB Home Area
Neuroscience GPB Home Area
Contact Information
Email
silvaa@mednet.ucla.edu Phone
Office Phone Number:
310-794-6609
Address
Work Address:
LaboratoryGonda Ctr
Los Angeles, CA 90095
UNITED STATES Office
Gonda Ctr.
Los Angeles, CA 90095
UNITED STATES
Biography
Alcino Silva got his Bachelor of Science from Rutgers University in 1979. There, he worked with William Sofer on Drosophila tRNA non-sense suppressors and minored on philosophy (epistemology). In 1983 he joined the graduate program of human genetics at the University of Utah, where he worked with Ray White, a pioneer in Human Genetics, on the inheritance of epigenetic information (Silva et al, 1988; Cell PMID: 2898978). During his post-doctoral work at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with Nobel Laureate Dr. Susumu Tonegawa (1988-92), Dr. Alcino J. Silva introduced transgenic mice to neuroscience studies of learning and memory and pioneered the field of Molecular and Cellular Cognition (Silva et al, Science 1992, PMIDs 1321493 &1378648). His first independent position (1992) was with the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, NY, where his research group had a key role in the development of Molecular and Cellular Cognition into a mainstream neuroscience field. In 2002 Dr. Silva founded and became the first President of the Molecular and Cellular Cognition Society, an international organization with more than 7000 members and with branches in North America, Asia and Europe. Besides work on molecular, cellular and circuit approaches to cognition, his laboratory also develops bioinformatics strategies to address the growing complexity of the literature, including the development of a set of algorithms and a free web app (researchmaps.org) to track causal information in biology. In 2006/2007 Dr. Silva served as Scientific Director of the Intramural Program of the National Institute of Mental Health. He is currently a Distinguished Professor in the Departments of Neurobiology, Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, and Psychology, and directs the Integrative Center for Learning and Memory. He has been awarded a number of prizes and distinctions, including most recently the Order of Prince Henry (2008), the Senior Roche Award For Translational Neuroscience (2009), and in 2012 he was elected a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement Science.Publications
A selected list of publications:
Silva Alcino J, Müller Klaus-Robert
The need for novel informatics tools for integrating and planning
research in molecular and cellular cognition
Learning & memory (Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.),
2015; 22(9):
494-8.
Korf Bruce, Ahmadian Reza, Allanson Judith, Aoki Yoko, Bakker Annette, Wright Emma Burkitt, Denger Brian, Elgersma Ype, Gelb Bruce D, Gripp Karen W, Kerr Bronwyn, Kontaridis Maria, Lazaro Conxi, Linardic Corinne, Lozano Reymundo, MacRae Calum A, Messiaen Ludwine, Mulero-Navarro Sonia, Neel Benjamin, Plotkin Scott, Rauen Katherine A, Roberts Amy, Silva Alcino J, Sittampalam Sitta G, Zhang Chao, Schoyer Lisa
The third international meeting on genetic disorders in the RAS/MAPK
pathway: Towards a therapeutic approach
American journal of medical genetics. Part A,
2015; 167(8):
1741-6.
Silva Alcino
Alcino Silva
Current biology : CB,
2015; 25(10):
R394-7.
Kastellakis George, Cai Denise J, Mednick Sara C, Silva Alcino J, Poirazi Panayiota
Synaptic clustering within dendrites: an emerging theory of memory
formation
Progress in neurobiology,
2015; 126(10):
19-35.
Sano Yoshitake, Shobe Justin L, Zhou Miou, Huang Shan, Shuman Tristan, Cai Denise J, Golshani Peyman, Kamata Masakazu, Silva Alcino J
CREB regulates memory allocation in the insular cortex
Current biology : CB,
2014; 24(23):
2833-7.
Lee Yong-Seok, Ehninger Dan, Zhou Miou, Oh Jun-Young, Kang Minkyung, Kwak Chuljung, Ryu Hyun-Hee, Butz Delana, Araki Toshiyuki, Cai Ying, Balaji J, Sano Yoshitake, Nam Christine I, Kim Hyong Kyu, Kaang Bong-Kiun, Burger Corinna, Neel Benjamin G, Silva Alcino J
Mechanism and treatment for learning and memory deficits in mouse
models of Noonan syndrome
Nature neuroscience,
2014; 17(12):
1736-43.
Le Belle Janel E, Sperry Jantzen, Ngo Amy, Ghochani Yasmin, Laks Dan R, López-Aranda Manuel, Silva Alcino J, Kornblum Harley I
Maternal inflammation contributes to brain overgrowth and
autism-associated behaviors through altered redox signaling in stem
and progenitor cells
Stem cell reports,
2014; 3(5):
725-34.
Czajkowski RafaÅ, Jayaprakash Balaji, Wiltgen Brian, Rogerson Thomas, Guzman-Karlsson Mikael C, Barth Alison L, Trachtenberg Joshua T, Silva Alcino J
Encoding and storage of spatial information in the retrosplenial
cortex
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America,
2014; 111(23):
8661-6.
Rogerson Thomas, Cai Denise J, Frank Adam, Sano Yoshitake, Shobe Justin, Lopez-Aranda Manuel F, Silva Alcino J
Synaptic tagging during memory allocation
Nature reviews. Neuroscience,
2014; 15(3):
157-69.
Landreth Anthony, Silva Alcino J
The need for research maps to navigate published work and inform
experiment planning
Neuron,
2013; 79(3):
411-5.
Zhou Miou, Li Weidong, Huang Shan, Song Juan, Kim Ju Young, Tian Xiaoli, Kang Eunchai, Sano Yoshitake, Liu Cindy, Balaji J, Wu Shumin, Zhou Yu, Zhou Ying, Parivash Sherveen N, Ehninger Dan, He Lin, Song Hongjun, Ming Guo-Li, Silva Alcino J
mTOR Inhibition ameliorates cognitive and affective deficits caused by
Disc1 knockdown in adult-born dentate granule neurons
Neuron,
2013; 77(4):
647-54.
Gutmann David H, Parada Luis F, Silva Alcino J, Ratner Nancy
Neurofibromatosis type 1: modeling CNS dysfunction
The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience,
2012; 32(41):
14087-93.
Acosta Maria T, Bearden Carrie E, Castellanos F Xavier, Castellanos Xavier F, Cutting Laurie, Elgersma Ype, Gioia Gerard, Gutmann David H, Lee Yong-Seok, Legius Eric, Muenke Maximillian, North Kathryn, Parada Luis F, Ratner Nancy, Hunter-Schaedle Kim, Silva Alcino J
The Learning Disabilities Network (LeaDNet): using neurofibromatosis
type 1 (NF1) as a paradigm for translational research
American journal of medical genetics. Part A,
2012; 158A(9):
2225-32.
Gdalyahu Amos, Tring Elaine, Polack Pierre-Olivier, Gruver Robin, Golshani Peyman, Fanselow Michael S, Silva Alcino J, Trachtenberg Joshua T
Associative fear learning enhances sparse network coding in primary
sensory cortex
Neuron,
2012; 75(1):
121-32.
Cho Jeiwon, Bhatt Rushi, Elgersma Ype, Silva Alcino J
α-Calcium calmodulin kinase II modulates the temporal structure of
hippocampal bursting patterns
PloS one,
2012; 7(2):
e31649.
Karlsgodt Katherine H, Rosser Tena, Lutkenhoff Evan S, Cannon Tyrone D, Silva Alcino, Bearden Carrie E
Alterations in white matter microstructure in neurofibromatosis-1
PloS one,
2012; 7(10):
e47854.
Silva Alcino J
A career that transformed neuroscience
Brain research bulletin,
2011; 7(2):
.
Ehninger Dan, Silva Alcino J
Increased levels of anxiety-related behaviors in a Tsc2 dominant
negative transgenic mouse model of tuberous sclerosis
Behavior genetics,
2011; 41(3):
357-63.
Lee Yong-Seok, Silva Alcino J
Modeling hyperactivity: of mice and men
Nature medicine,
2011; 17(5):
541-2.
Kye Min Jeong, Neveu Pierre, Lee Yong-Seok, Zhou Miou, Steen Judith A, Sahin Mustafa, Kosik Kenneth S, Silva Alcino J
NMDA mediated contextual conditioning changes miRNA expression
PloS one,
2011; 6(9):
e24682.
Kaneko Megumi, Cheetham Claire E, Lee Yong-Seok, Silva Alcino J, Stryker Michael P, Fox Kevin
Constitutively active H-ras accelerates multiple forms of plasticity
in developing visual cortex
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America,
2010; 107(44):
19026-31.
Shilyansky Carrie, Karlsgodt Katherine H, Cummings Damian M, Sidiropoulou Kyriaki, Hardt Molly, James Alex S, Ehninger Dan, Bearden Carrie E, Poirazi Panayiota, Jentsch J David, Cannon Tyrone D, Levine Michael S, Silva Alcino J
Neurofibromin regulates corticostriatal inhibitory networks during
working memory performance
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America,
2010; 107(29):
13141-6.
Feng Jian, Zhou Yu, Campbell Susan L, Le Thuc, Li En, Sweatt J David, Silva Alcino J, Fan Guoping
Dnmt1 and Dnmt3a maintain DNA methylation and regulate synaptic
function in adult forebrain neurons
Nature neuroscience,
2010; 13(4):
423-30.
Matynia Anna, Ng Carina Hoi, Dansithong Warunee, Chiang Andy, Silva Alcino J, Reddy Sita
Muscleblind1, but not Dmpk or Six5, contributes to a complex phenotype
of muscular and motivational deficits in mouse models of myotonic
dystrophy
PloS one,
2010; 5(3):
e9857.
Zhou Yu, Won Jaejoon, Karlsson Mikael Guzman, Zhou Miou, Rogerson Thomas, Balaji Jayaprakash, Neve Rachael, Poirazi Panayiota, Silva Alcino J
CREB regulates excitability and the allocation of memory to subsets of
neurons in the amygdala
Nature neuroscience,
2009; 12(11):
1438-43.
Silva Alcino J, Zhou Yu, Rogerson Thomas, Shobe Justin, Balaji J
Molecular and cellular approaches to memory allocation in neural
circuits
Science (New York, N.Y.),
2009; 326(5951):
391-5.
Hutnick Leah K, Golshani Peyman, Namihira Masakasu, Xue Zhigang, Matynia Anna, Yang X William, Silva Alcino J, Schweizer Felix E, Fan Guoping
DNA hypomethylation restricted to the murine forebrain induces
cortical degeneration and impairs postnatal neuronal maturation
Human molecular genetics,
2009; 18(15):
2875-88.
Ehninger Dan, Silva Alcino J
Genetics and neuropsychiatric disorders: treatment during adulthood
Nature medicine,
2009; 15(8):
849-50.
Silva Alcino J, Ehninger Dan
Adult reversal of cognitive phenotypes in neurodevelopmental
disorders
Journal of neurodevelopmental disorders,
2009; 1(2):
150-7.
Lee Yong-Seok, Silva Alcino J
The molecular and cellular biology of enhanced cognition
Nature reviews. Neuroscience,
2009; 10(2):
126-40.
Ehninger Dan, Li Weidong, Fox Kevin, Stryker Michael P, Silva Alcino J
Reversing neurodevelopmental disorders in adults
Neuron,
2008; 60(6):
950-60.
Cui Yijun, Costa Rui M, Murphy Geoffrey G, Elgersma Ype, Zhu Yuan, Gutmann David H, Parada Luis F, Mody Istvan, Silva Alcino J
Neurofibromin regulation of ERK signaling modulates GABA release and
learning
Cell,
2008; 135(3):
549-60.
Ehninger Dan, Han Sangyeul, Shilyansky Carrie, Zhou Yu, Li Weidong, Kwiatkowski David J, Ramesh Vijaya, Silva Alcino J
Reversal of learning deficits in a Tsc2+/- mouse model of tuberous
sclerosis
Nature medicine,
2008; 14(8):
843-8.
Matynia Anna, Anagnostaras Stephan G, Wiltgen Brian J, Lacuesta Maress, Fanselow Michael S, Silva Alcino J
A high through-put reverse genetic screen identifies two genes
involved in remote memory in mice
PloS one,
2008; 3(5):
e2121.
Won Jaejoon, Silva Alcino J
Molecular and cellular mechanisms of memory allocation in
neuronetworks
Neurobiology of learning and memory,
2008; 89(3):
285-92.
Zhou Yu, Takahashi Eiki, Li Weidong, Halt Amy, Wiltgen Brian, Ehninger Dan, Li Guo-Dong, Hell Johannes W, Kennedy Mary B, Silva Alcino J
Interactions between the NR2B receptor and CaMKII modulate synaptic
plasticity and spatial learning
The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience,
2007; 27(50):
13843-53.
Li Weidong, Zhou Yu, Jentsch J David, Brown Robert A M, Tian Xiaoli, Ehninger Dan, Hennah William, Peltonen Leena, Lönnqvist Jouko, Huttunen Matti O, Kaprio Jaakko, Trachtenberg Joshua T, Silva Alcino J, Cannon Tyrone D
Specific developmental disruption of disrupted-in-schizophrenia-1
function results in schizophrenia-related phenotypes in mice
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America,
2007; 104(46):
18280-5.
Silva Alcino J
The science of research: the principles underlying the discovery of
cognitive and other biological mechanisms
Journal of physiology, Paris,
2007; 101(4-6):
203-13.
Wiltgen Brian J, Silva Alcino J
Memory for context becomes less specific with time
Learning & memory (Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.),
2007; 14(4):
313-7.
Murphy Geoffrey G, Rahnama Nancy P, Silva Alcino J
Investigation of age-related cognitive decline using mice as a model
system: behavioral correlates
The American journal of geriatric psychiatry : official journal of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry,
2006; 14(12):
1004-11.
Murphy Geoffrey G, Shah Vaibhavi, Hell Johannes W, Silva Alcino J
Investigation of age-related cognitive decline using mice as a model
system: neurophysiological correlates
The American journal of geriatric psychiatry : official journal of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry,
2006; 14(12):
1012-21.
Chen Adele P, Ohno Masuo, Giese K Peter, Kühn Ralf, Chen Rachel L, Silva Alcino J
Forebrain-specific knockout of B-raf kinase leads to deficits in
hippocampal long-term potentiation, learning, and memory
Journal of neuroscience research,
2006; 83(1):
28-38.
Li Weidong, Cui Yijun, Kushner Steven A, Brown Robert A M, Jentsch J David, Frankland Paul W, Cannon Tyrone D, Silva Alcino J
The HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor lovastatin reverses the learning and
attention deficits in a mouse model of neurofibromatosis type 1
Current biology : CB,
2005; 15(21):
1961-7.
Kushner Steven A, Elgersma Ype, Murphy Geoffrey G, Jaarsma Dick, van Woerden Geeske M, Hojjati Mohammad Reza, Cui Yijun, LeBoutillier Janelle C, Marrone Diano F, Choi Esther S, De Zeeuw Chris I, Petit Ted L, Pozzo-Miller Lucas, Silva Alcino J
Modulation of presynaptic plasticity and learning by the
H-ras/extracellular signal-regulated kinase/synapsin I signaling
pathway
The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience,
2005; 25(42):
9721-34.
Costa Rui M, Drew Camilla, Silva Alcino J
Notch to remember
Trends in neurosciences,
2005; 28(8):
429-35.
Ehninger Dan, Matynia Anna, Silva Alcino J
Trafficking in emotions
Nature neuroscience,
2005; 8(5):
548-50.
Murphy Geoffrey G, Fedorov Nikolai B, Giese K Peter, Ohno Masuo, Friedman Eugenia, Chen Rachel, Silva Alcino J
Increased neuronal excitability, synaptic plasticity, and learning in
aged Kvbeta1.1 knockout mice
Current biology : CB,
2004; 14(21):
1907-15.
Israely Inbal, Costa Rui M, Xie Cui Wei, Silva Alcino J, Kosik Kenneth S, Liu Xin
Deletion of the neuron-specific protein delta-catenin leads to severe
cognitive and synaptic dysfunction
Current biology : CB,
2004; 14(18):
1657-63.
Wiltgen Brian J, Brown Robert A M, Talton Lynn E, Silva Alcino J
New circuits for old memories: the role of the neocortex in
consolidation
Neuron,
2004; 44(1):
101-8.
Suzuki Akinobu, Josselyn Sheena A, Frankland Paul W, Masushige Shoichi, Silva Alcino J, Kida Satoshi
Memory reconsolidation and extinction have distinct temporal and
biochemical signatures
The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience,
2004; 24(20):
4787-95.
Frankland Paul W, Bontempi Bruno, Talton Lynn E, Kaczmarek Leszek, Silva Alcino J
The involvement of the anterior cingulate cortex in remote contextual
fear memory
Science (New York, N.Y.),
2004; 304(5672):
881-3.
Frankland Paul W, Josselyn Sheena A, Anagnostaras Stephan G, Kogan Jeffrey H, Takahashi Eiki, Silva Alcino J
Consolidation of CS and US representations in associative fear
conditioning
Hippocampus,
2004; 14(5):
557-69.
Brown Robert, Silva Alcino J
Molecular and cellular cognition; the unraveling of memory retrieval
Cell,
2004; 117(1):
3-4.
Costa Rui M, Honjo Tasuku, Silva Alcino J
Learning and memory deficits in Notch mutant mice
Current biology : CB,
2003; 13(15):
1348-54.
Frankland Paul W, Ohno Masuo, Takahashi Eiki, Chen Adele R, Costa Rui M, Kushner Steven A, Silva Alcino J
Pharmacologically regulated induction of silent mutations (PRISM):
combined pharmacological and genetic approaches for learning and
memory
The Neuroscientist : a review journal bringing neurobiology, neurology and psychiatry,
2003; 9(2):
104-9.
Dhaka Ajay, Costa Rui M, Hu Hailiang, Irvin Dwain K, Patel Apoor, Kornblum Harley I, Silva Alcino J, O'Dell Thomas J, Colicelli John
The RAS effector RIN1 modulates the formation of aversive memories
The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience,
2003; 23(3):
748-57.
Silva Alcino J
Molecular and cellular cognitive studies of the role of synaptic
plasticity in memory
Journal of neurobiology,
2003; 54(1):
224-37.
Costa Rui M, Silva Alcino J
Mouse models of neurofibromatosis type I: bridging the GAP
Trends in molecular medicine,
2003; 9(1):
19-23.
Anagnostaras Stephan G, Murphy Geoffrey G, Hamilton Susan E, Mitchell Scott L, Rahnama Nancy P, Nathanson Neil M, Silva Alcino J
Selective cognitive dysfunction in acetylcholine M1 muscarinic
receptor mutant mice
Nature neuroscience,
2003; 6(1):
51-8.
Elgersma Ype, Fedorov Nikolai B, Ikonen Sami, Choi Esther S, Elgersma Minetta, Carvalho Ofelia M, Giese Karl Peter, Silva Alcino J
Inhibitory autophosphorylation of CaMKII controls PSD association,
plasticity, and learning
Neuron,
2002; 36(3):
493-505.
Costa Rui M, Silva Alcino J
Molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the cognitive deficits
associated with neurofibromatosis 1
Journal of child neurology,
2002; 17(8):
622-6; discussion 627-9, 646-51.
Silva Alcino J, Josselyn Sheena A
The molecules of forgetfulness
Nature,
2002; 418(6901):
929-30.
Ohno Masuo, Frankland Paul W, Silva Alcino J
A pharmacogenetic inducible approach to the study of NMDA/alphaCaMKII
signaling in synaptic plasticity
Current biology : CB,
2002; 12(8):
654-6.
Kida Satoshi, Josselyn Sheena A, Peña de Ortiz Sandra, Kogan Jeffrey H, Chevere Itzamarie, Masushige Shoichi, Silva Alcino J
CREB required for the stability of new and reactivated fear memories
Nature neuroscience,
2002; 5(4):
348-55.
Givogri Maria I, Costa Rui M, Schonmann Vilma, Silva Alcino J, Campagnoni Anthony T, Bongarzone Ernesto R
Central nervous system myelination in mice with deficient expression
of Notch1 receptor
Journal of neuroscience research,
2002; 67(3):
309-20.
Matynia Anna, Kushner Steven A, Silva Alcino J
Genetic approaches to molecular and cellular cognition: a focus on LTP
and learning and memory
Annual review of genetics,
2002; 36(6871):
687-720.
Costa Rui M, Federov Nikolai B, Kogan Jeff H, Murphy Geoffrey G, Stern Joel, Ohno Masuo, Kucherlapati Raju, Jacks Tyler, Silva Alcino J
Mechanism for the learning deficits in a mouse model of
neurofibromatosis type 1
Nature,
2002; 415(6871):
526-30.