Differences in “bottom-up” and “top-down” neural activity in current and former cigarette smokers: Evidence for neural substrates which may promote nicotine abstinence through increased cognitive control

► Drug-related stimuli acquire incentive motivational properties. ► Control, ex-smokers and smokers completed attentional bias and go/no-go tasks. ► Ex-smokers exhibited more prefrontal neural activity than controls and smokers. ► May suggest “top-down” cognitive control promotes nicotine abstinence.