High novelty-seeking predicts greater sensitivity to the conditioned rewarding effects of cocaine

► Novelty-seeking can predict the sensitivity to the rewarding properties of cocaine. ► CPP was induced with a sub-threshold dose of cocaine (1 mg/kg, i.p.). ► Three factors were considered: age, sex and novelty-seeking trait. ► High-environment-NS young adult mice developed cocaine-induced CPP. ► Time spent exploring novel environment can identify animals more vulnerable to drugs.