An experiment was done in which human subjects recognize a pattern within a matrix of abstract designs and
then select another design that completes that pattern. The results of the experiment were surprising. The
lowest expenditure of energy in neurons in the brain was found in those subjects who performed most
successfully in the experiments.
Which of the following hypotheses best accounts for the findings of the experiment?
(A) The neurons of the brain react less when a subject is trying to recognize patterns than when the subject is
doing other kinds of reasoning.
(B) Those who performed best in the experiment experienced more satisfaction when working with abstract
patterns than did those who performed less well.
(C) People who are better at abstract pattern recognition have more energy-efficient neural connections.
(D) The energy expenditure of the subjects' brains increases when a design that completes the initially
recognized pattern is determined.
(E) The task of completing a given design is more capably performed by athletes, whose energy expenditure
is lower when they are at rest.