(a) Bright field image of sagittal section and (b) fluorescence image showing DREADD expression in NAc neurons and projections to ventral pallidum. aca, anterior commisure ant; ac, anterior commisure. Scale bars = 500 μm. (c) Representative traces of ChR2-evoked IPSC recorded in ventral pallidum neurons before (grey) and after CNO (10 μM) application. (d) Time course of the CNO inhibition of IPSC amplitude in ventral pallidum neurons (n = 7). (e) A diagram describing the experimental timeline. (f) Cocaine intake for animals receiving saline (open) or CNO (solid). (g) Left, Breakpoint values achieved by individual mouse during 4-6 consecutive progressive ratio sessions (PR test) in which mice randomly received saline (open) or CNO (solid, 1 mg/kg). Inset, BP values after CNO normalized to individual saline values (h) BP values achieved by individual mouse during 4 consecutive progressive ratio sessions (PR test) in which mice randomly received saline (open) or D2 agonist quinelorane (gray, 0.03 mg/kg). Inset, BP after quinelorane normalized to individual saline values. *p < 0.05, paired t-test (f) and one sample t-test (g, h). Data are mean ± SEM.