Research Interests
- taste, ingestive behaviors, animal models of obesity and eating disorders, neurobiology of energy metabolism
- polydrug use and behavior
- cognitive and emotional behaviors in aging and dementia
Research Description
Feeding is fundamental to survival and reproduction. Multiple factors contribute to aberrant eating behaviors and the resulting obesity, eating disorders, metabolic and cognitive dysfunction. My overall research program is aimed at identifying the underlying mechanisms of reward, body weight control, energy metabolism, and related cognitive function. Our current focus are ingestive behaviors (e.g., eating and drug taking) and how various factors (e.g. exercise, genetics, and environment) contribute to clinical conditions such as obesity, diabetes, drug dependence, and cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.
Education
Postdoctoral training, Johns Hopkins University
Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University
Grants
NIH/NIDA R21DA045175 Mechanisms of metabolic and cognitive dysregulation after combined alcohol and THC use
NIH/NIDA R03DA043701 Consequences of simultaneous alcohol and cannabis use in adolescence
Courses Taught
PSYC 210: Behavioral Neuroscience
PSYC 417: Neuroscience of Eating and Drinking
Additional Campus Affiliations
Associate Professor, Psychology
Associate Professor, Nutritional Sciences
Associate Professor, Neuroscience Program
Affiliate, Personalized Nutrition Initiative, Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology
Academic Service
- Undergraduate students can take research course (PSYC 290 or MCB 290) to gain research skills and experience in the Liang lab.
- Graduate applicants are wellcome to send (ncliang8@illinois.edu) inquiry about graduate study with the Liang lab through affiliate programs e.g., psychology, neuroscience program, division of nutritional sciences.
Recent Publications
Shi, L., Choi, C. Y., Carrica, L. K., Liang, N. C., & Gulley, J. M. (2025). The effects of moderate alcohol and THC co-use during male and female rat adolescence on AKT-GSK3ß signaling in adulthood. Behavioural Brain Research, 476, Article 115292. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2024.115292
Venegas, J. J., Weisz, J. M., Choi, C. Y., Herringshaw, R. E., Nabelsi, O. A., & Liang, N. C. (2025). Social isolation increases impulsive choice with minor changes on metabolic function in middle-aged rats. Physiological Reports, 13(2), Article e70184. https://doi.org/10.14814/phy2.70184
Shi, L., Kang, S., Choi, C. Y., Noonan, B. L., Carrica, L. K., Liang, N. C., & Gulley, J. M. (2024). Effects of combined exposure to ethanol and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol during adolescence on synaptic plasticity in the prefrontal cortex of Long Evans rats. Neuropharmacology, 242, Article 109765. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropharm.2023.109765
Carrica, L. K., Choi, C. Y., Walter, F. A., Noonan, B. L., Shi, L., Johnson, C. T., Bradshaw, H. B., Liang, N. C., & Gulley, J. M. (2023). Effects of combined use of alcohol and delta-9-tetrahydrocannibinol on working memory in Long Evans rats. Behavioural Brain Research, 449, Article 114475. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2023.114475
Sangiamo, D. T., Weingarten, M. J., Choi, C. Y., Das, A., & Liang, N. C. (2023). Experience with dronabinol consumption facilitated a stimulant effect of alcohol and affected alcohol-related changes in frontal cortical endocannabinoid levels in male rats. Behavioural Brain Research, 452, Article 114587. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2023.114587