Studies have shown that rats have two competing neural pathways that mediate maternal responses and aversive behaviors towards pups. In virgin females the aversive pathway is dominant and plays a strong role in suppressing maternal behavior. However, the hormones in postpartum rats ignite the opposite circuit and silence the aversive one. Studying the interplay of these two circuits in different environments and in different populations can help us discover the controls of parental care in various species.