We analysed research that makes use of precocial species as animal models to describe the interaction of predisposed mechanisms and environmental factors in early learning, in particular for the development of social cognition. We also highlight the role of sensitive periods in this interaction, focusing on domestic chicks as one of the main animal models for this field. In the first section of the review, we focus on the emergence of early predispositions to attend to social partners. These attentional biases appear before any learning experience about social stimuli. However, non-specific experiences occurring during sensitive periods of the early post-natal life determine the emergence of these predisposed mechanisms for the detection of social partners. Social predispositions have an important role for the development learning-based social cognitive functions, showing the interdependence of predisposed and learned mechanisms in shaping social development. In the second part of the review we concentrate on the reciprocal interactions between filial imprinting and spontaneous (not learned) social predispositions. Reciprocal influences between these two sets of mechanisms ensure that, in the natural environment, filial imprinting will target appropriate social objects. Neural and physiological mechanisms regulating the sensitive periods for the emergence of social predispositions and for filial imprinting learning are also described.

我们分析了利用早熟物种作为动物模型来描述早期学习中易感机制和环境因素的相互作用的研究，特别是对于社会认知的发展。我们还强调了敏感期在这种相互作用中的作用，将家养小鸡作为该领域的主要动物模型之一。在该综述的第一部分，我们关注关注社会伙伴的早期倾向的出现。这些注意力偏差出现在任何关于社会刺激的学习经历之前。然而，在出生后早期敏感时期发生的非特定经历决定了这些检测社会伙伴的易感机制的出现。社会倾向对以学习为基础的社会认知功能的发展具有重要作用，表现出倾向和学习机制在塑造社会发展中的相互依存关系。在评论的第二部分，我们专注于孝道印记和自发（非学习）社会倾向之间的相互作用。这两组机制之间的相互影响确保，在自然环境中，孝道印记将针对适当的社会对象。还描述了调节社会倾向出现和孝顺学习的敏感期的神经和生理机制。在评论的第二部分，我们专注于孝道印记和自发（非学习）社会倾向之间的相互作用。这两组机制之间的相互影响确保，在自然环境中，孝道印记将针对适当的社会对象。还描述了调节社会倾向出现和孝顺学习的敏感期的神经和生理机制。在评论的第二部分，我们专注于孝道印记和自发（非学习）社会倾向之间的相互作用。这两组机制之间的相互影响确保，在自然环境中，孝道印记将针对适当的社会对象。还描述了调节社会倾向出现和孝顺学习的敏感期的神经和生理机制。