 Their research findings challenge the widely held view that susceptibility to memory distortion declines from childhood into adulthood, and have implications for research on the reliability of eyewitness testimony.In applications of fuzzy-trace theory to risky decision making, Reyna and her colleagues distinguish "rational" decision-making, involving deliberate analysis of trade offs between risks and benefits, and nondeliberative reactions, in which the gist of the situation cues action.As youth develop into adolescents and young adults, they are increasingly likely to rely on intuitive gist-based responding, and less likely to engage in rational consideration of risks.