Electrophysiological recording procedures were used to examine nucleus accumbens (Acb) cell firing in rats (n = 13) during water reinforcement sessions consisting of three phases. During phase one (maintenance), a lever press resulted in water reinforcement (fixed ratio 1; 0.05 ml/press) paired with an auditory stimulus (0.5 s). Of 128 Acb neurons recorded during maintenance, 40 cells (31%) exhibited one of three types of neuronal firing patterns described previously [J. Neurosci. 14 (12) (1994) 7735-7746; J. Neurosci. 20 (11) (2000) 4255-4266]. Briefly, Acb neurons exhibited increases in firing rate within seconds preceding the reinforced response (type PR) or increases (type RFe) or decreases (type RFi) in activity seconds following response completion. In phase two (extinction), subsequent lever pressing had no programmed consequences (i.e., water reinforcement and the auditory stimulus were not presented). After 30 min of no responding, animals were given water reinforcement/auditory stimulus 'primes' to reestablish lever pressing behavior during the third phase (reinstatement). Results indicated that all types of phasic neurons (PR, RFe and RFi) exhibited an attenuated firing rate during extinction, and in some cases recovery of patterned discharges were observed during reinstatement. No significant changes in cell firing were observed for any cell type during presentation of the stimulus prime used to reestablish operant responding following extinction. These findings are discussed in terms of how Acb neurons process information related to 'natural' reinforcers versus drugs of abuse.