Here, we summarize recent advances on how environmental influences during sensitive phases alter the social behavioral phenotype of rodents later in life. Current studies support the view that the prenatal, early postnatal and adolescent periods of life can be regarded as sensitive phases. Environmental cues acting on the organism during these phases have a wide variety of effects on adult social behavior. One pattern that emerges across species and sensitive phases is that adversity tends to reduce social interactions and particularly affiliative social behavior. Concerning underlying mechanisms, various hormones can be involved; however, glucocorticoids frequently serve as the signal instigating plasticity. There is also increasing appreciation of non-endocrine mechanisms, specifically epigenetics and the microbiome. Concerning function, some evidence exists that sensitive phase outcomes adjust the individual’s social phenotype to the nature of the social environment to be present during adulthood and breeding, though additional empirical support is still needed.

在这里，我们总结了有关敏感阶段的环境影响如何改变啮齿动物晚年社会行为表型的最新进展。目前的研究支持以下观点，即产前、产后早期和青春期可被视为敏感阶段。在这些阶段作用于有机体的环境线索对成人的社会行为有各种各样的影响。跨物种和敏感阶段出现的一种模式是逆境往往会减少社交互动，尤其是亲和的社交行为。关于潜在机制，可能涉及各种激素；然而，糖皮质激素经常充当引发可塑性的信号。人们对非内分泌机制的认识也越来越多，特别是表观遗传学和微生物组。关于功能，