Roles of nucleus accumbens and basolateral amygdala in autoshaped lever pressing

► Rats with lesions of nucleus accumbens showed reduced probability of autoshaped lever pressing but only early in training. ► Rats with lesions of basolateral amygdala showed normal acquisition but reduced terminal rates of autoshaped lever pressing. ► Rats with asymmetrical disconnection lesions of both structures showed both deficits.