A new study has found that neural circuits in the brain may play a role in determining how a parent will take care of their children - at least, if you're a mouse. Researchers activated different portions of neurons in an area of the brain and found that different subsets caused the mice to groom, interact and engage in other behaviors with their pups. It's unclear whether the same circuit exists in other mammals, but the scientists say it still serves as an interesting case study for humans. A new study has found that neural circuits in the brain may play a role in determining how a parent will take care of their children - at least, if you're a mouse The study was published Thursday in the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Researchers from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Harvard University specifically looked at a small cluster of neurons in the media preoptic area (MPOA) of the brain.