Nucleus accumbens D2/3 receptors predict trait impulsivity and cocaine reinforcement. This study shows that trait impulsivity in rats predicts high rates of intravenous cocaine self-administration and is associated with changes in dopamine (DA) function before drug exposure. Using positron emission tomography (PET), the researchers found that D2/3 receptor availability is significantly reduced in the nucleus accumbens of impulsive rats that were never exposed to cocaine, independent of DA release. These findings suggest that trait impulsivity predicts cocaine reinforcement and that D2 receptor dysfunction in abstinent cocaine addicts may be influenced by premorbid factors. The study also found that reduced D2/3 receptor availability in the ventral striatum is inversely correlated with trait impulsivity. This was confirmed through PET imaging and in vivo microdialysis. The researchers investigated the effects of trait impulsivity on cocaine self-administration and found that impulsive rats exhibited a higher rate of cocaine self-administration compared to non-impulsive rats. Additionally, prolonged exposure to cocaine in trait-impulsive rats led to a selective normalization of premature responding on the 5-CSRT task, indicating a potential link between trait impulsivity and cocaine addiction. The study highlights the role of D2-like DA receptors in regulating cocaine self-administration and suggests that reduced D2 receptor availability in the nucleus accumbens may contribute to increased cocaine self-administration. These findings support the hypothesis that dysfunctional DA neurotransmission at D2-like receptors in the nucleus accumbens confers susceptibility to increased cocaine self-administration in high-impulsive rats. The results also expand on previous findings in abstinent human cocaine addicts by demonstrating that decreased D2 receptor availability in the striatum may be a predisposing neurobiological trait rather than a consequence of chronic cocaine exposure. The study underscores the importance of D2-like DA receptors in drug vulnerability and highlights their potential role in both impulsivity and vulnerability to drug abuse disorders.Nucleus accumbens D2/3 receptors predict trait impulsivity and cocaine reinforcement. This study shows that trait impulsivity in rats predicts high rates of intravenous cocaine self-administration and is associated with changes in dopamine (DA) function before drug exposure. Using positron emission tomography (PET), the researchers found that D2/3 receptor availability is significantly reduced in the nucleus accumbens of impulsive rats that were never exposed to cocaine, independent of DA release. These findings suggest that trait impulsivity predicts cocaine reinforcement and that D2 receptor dysfunction in abstinent cocaine addicts may be influenced by premorbid factors. The study also found that reduced D2/3 receptor availability in the ventral striatum is inversely correlated with trait impulsivity. This was confirmed through PET imaging and in vivo microdialysis. The researchers investigated the effects of trait impulsivity on cocaine self-administration and found that impulsive rats exhibited a higher rate of cocaine self-administration compared to non-impulsive rats. Additionally, prolonged exposure to cocaine in trait-impulsive rats led to a selective normalization of premature responding on the 5-CSRT task, indicating a potential link between trait impulsivity and cocaine addiction. The study highlights the role of D2-like DA receptors in regulating cocaine self-administration and suggests that reduced D2 receptor availability in the nucleus accumbens may contribute to increased cocaine self-administration. These findings support the hypothesis that dysfunctional DA neurotransmission at D2-like receptors in the nucleus accumbens confers susceptibility to increased cocaine self-administration in high-impulsive rats. The results also expand on previous findings in abstinent human cocaine addicts by demonstrating that decreased D2 receptor availability in the striatum may be a predisposing neurobiological trait rather than a consequence of chronic cocaine exposure. The study underscores the importance of D2-like DA receptors in drug vulnerability and highlights their potential role in both impulsivity and vulnerability to drug abuse disorders.