Groups of rats were given bilateral lesions in the cingulate cortex and then half were subjected to a regimen of chronic morphine injections, while the other half received no premedication. Morphine-oriented behavior was indexed by a learned preference for a bitter morphine HC1 solution. Bilateral anterior cingulate cortex lesions resulted in a decrement in the acquisition of drug-oriented behavior, while premedication produced an enhancement of morphine intake.