Nature, Published online: 05 August 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10887-9

Cell-type-specific opioid blockade in accumbal cholinergic interneurons abolishes morphine-reward learning without impairing analgesia and decouples morphine-evoked dopamine elevations from acetylcholine dips, suggesting pro-cholinergic strategies to limit early opioid reward acquisition.