Intracranial self-stimulation (ICSS) was facilitated by CART.
ICSS resulted in robust activation of CART cells in the LH.
ICSS induced synaptic plasticity in CART system in reward circuit.
Rats can be conditioned to self-administer CART in pVTA.
CART neurons of LH-MFB may process motivation via the mesolimbic dopamine pathway.