It has been argued that the dopaminergic system is involved in the attribution of motivational value to reward predictive cues as well as prediction error. To evaluate, dopamine neurons were recorded from male rats performing a Pavlovian approach task containing cues that have both “predictive” and “incentive” properties. All animals learned the predictive nature of the cue (illuminated lever entry into cage), but some also found the cue to be attractive and were motivated toward it (“sign-trackers,” STs). “Goal-trackers” (GTs) predominantly approached the location of reward receptacle. Rats were implanted with tetrodes for neural electrophysiological recordings in the ventral tegmental area. Cells were characterized by spike waveform shape and firing rate. Firing rates and magnitudes of responses in relation to Pavlovian behaviors, cue presentation, and reward delivery were assessed. We identified 103 dopamine and 141 nondopamine neurons. GTs and STs both showed responses to the initial lever presentation...