What is the minimum delay in seconds between a behavior and reinforcement that significantly decreases its effectiveness?

The minimum delay between a behavior and its reinforcement that can significantly decrease the effectiveness of that reinforcement is generally recognized as around 0.5 seconds. This short time frame is crucial in behavior modification and training, particularly in animals.

When reinforcement follows a behavior almost immediately, it helps solidify the association between the two. The quicker the reinforcement occurs, the clearer the signal to the animal that their behavior produced a positive outcome. Delays longer than half a second can lead to ambiguity, as the animal may not connect the reinforcement with the specific behavior that just occurred. For example, if a dog sits and receives a treat after a 5 or 10-second delay, the animal may not clearly associate the treat with the action of sitting, potentially leading to confusion or misinterpretation of which behavior is being rewarded.

In contrast, longer delays (like 5 or 10 seconds) greatly diminish the likelihood of successfully reinforcing the desired behavior, as the animal may not even recall the action that prompted the reinforcement by the time it arrives. Therefore, the effectiveness of reinforcement relies heavily on immediate timing relative to the behavior in question.