Angus Silver facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Angus Silver
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Silver in 2017
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Robin Angus Silver
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| Alma mater | Coventry Polytechnic University College London |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Neuroscience Neuroinformatics Microscopy |
| Thesis | Calcium as a second messenger in neuronal growth cones (1990) |
Robin Angus Silver is a British scientist who studies the brain. He is a professor of neuroscience at University College London. His lab explores how brain cells, called neurons, communicate. They also study how the brain processes information.
Professor Silver's team combines different methods. They use experiments in the lab and computer models. This helps them understand how our brains work.
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Angus Silver's Education Journey
Angus Silver started his higher education at Coventry Polytechnic. In 1986, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree. This degree was in physical sciences.
He then continued his studies at University College London. In 1990, he received his PhD in neuroscience. His research focused on how calcium signals work in growing nerve cells. These signals are important for how brain cells develop.
Exploring Brain Function: Silver's Research
Professor Silver's work has greatly improved our understanding of the brain. He studies how brain cells connect and send messages. These connections are called synapses. He also looks at how the brain processes information.
His team has developed ways to measure how synapses work. This research shows how signals are sent and changed in the brain. It also explains how brain cells can handle very fast signals.
How Brain Cells Communicate
Angus Silver has studied electrical synapses. These are special connections that allow very fast communication between neurons. He has also shown how neurons can perform simple math-like tasks. This helps us understand how the brain computes.
Understanding Brain Circuits
Using computer models, Professor Silver has explored how brain circuits are built. He found that connections in a part of the brain called the cerebellar input layer are very efficient. They are good at organizing information and separating different patterns of activity. This helps the brain make sense of many signals at once.
New Tools for Brain Research
Professor Silver's group has also created new tools. These tools help scientists study how brain circuits work.
- High-Speed Microscope: They developed a special microscope. It can scan in 3D very quickly. This microscope uses a laser to measure brain cell activity. It helps scientists see what's happening in the brain in real-time.
- Software for Brain Models: They also created computer programs. These programs help build models of neural circuits. One program is called neuroConstruct.
- Standardizing Brain Models: They helped create a language called NeuroML. This language helps scientists describe brain models in a standard way. This makes it easier for different labs to share their work.
- OpenSourceBrain: They also set up OpenSourceBrain. This is a place where scientists can share and work together on brain models.
Professor Silver's research has received funding from important organizations. These include the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), the European Research Council (ERC), and the Wellcome Trust.
Awards and Honours
In 2017, Angus Silver was recognized for his important contributions to science. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS). This is a very high honour for a scientist in the United Kingdom.
