The study investigates the relationship between trait impulsivity and cocaine reinforcement in rats, focusing on the role of D2/3 receptors in the nucleus accumbens. Researchers used positron emission tomography (PET) to measure D2/3 receptor availability in the ventral and dorsolateral striatum of cocaine-naïve rats. They found that high-impulsive rats showed significantly reduced D2/3 receptor availability in the ventral striatum compared to non-impulsive rats, with no difference in DA release. This reduction was independent of DA release and was associated with increased rates of intravenous cocaine self-administration. The study also found that prolonged cocaine exposure and subsequent withdrawal in high-impulsive rats led to a selective normalization of premature responding on a sustained visual attention task, suggesting that trait impulsivity is a drug-vulnerable phenotype. These findings highlight the potential involvement of D2-like DA receptors in the development of cocaine addiction and suggest that reduced D2/3 receptor availability may be a predisposing neurobiological trait.The study investigates the relationship between trait impulsivity and cocaine reinforcement in rats, focusing on the role of D2/3 receptors in the nucleus accumbens. Researchers used positron emission tomography (PET) to measure D2/3 receptor availability in the ventral and dorsolateral striatum of cocaine-naïve rats. They found that high-impulsive rats showed significantly reduced D2/3 receptor availability in the ventral striatum compared to non-impulsive rats, with no difference in DA release. This reduction was independent of DA release and was associated with increased rates of intravenous cocaine self-administration. The study also found that prolonged cocaine exposure and subsequent withdrawal in high-impulsive rats led to a selective normalization of premature responding on a sustained visual attention task, suggesting that trait impulsivity is a drug-vulnerable phenotype. These findings highlight the potential involvement of D2-like DA receptors in the development of cocaine addiction and suggest that reduced D2/3 receptor availability may be a predisposing neurobiological trait.