diff --git a/analysis/matlab/variations/unmerge_d0_13/learning_curve.png b/analysis/matlab/variations/unmerge_d0_13/learning_curve.png
index e35a036..c9999e5 100644
Binary files a/analysis/matlab/variations/unmerge_d0_13/learning_curve.png and b/analysis/matlab/variations/unmerge_d0_13/learning_curve.png differ
diff --git a/analysis/matlab/variations/unmerge_d0_13/learning_curve_rate.png b/analysis/matlab/variations/unmerge_d0_13/learning_curve_rate.png
index ec6223c..a925b68 100644
Binary files a/analysis/matlab/variations/unmerge_d0_13/learning_curve_rate.png and b/analysis/matlab/variations/unmerge_d0_13/learning_curve_rate.png differ
diff --git a/analysis/matlab/variations/unmerge_d0_13/plotcurve.m b/analysis/matlab/variations/unmerge_d0_13/plotcurve.m
index 8399de2..6b28e51 100644
--- a/analysis/matlab/variations/unmerge_d0_13/plotcurve.m
+++ b/analysis/matlab/variations/unmerge_d0_13/plotcurve.m
@@ -38,21 +38,12 @@ legend([e1 e2], {sprintf('anodal, N = %d', na), sprintf('control, N = %d', nc)},
     'Location', 'northwest', 'Box', 'off');
 xlabel('training day'); ylabel(ylab);
 title(vname, 'Interpreter', 'none');
-% Vertical x-axis tick labels. XTickLabelRotation / xtickangle are NOT honored
-% by exportgraphics on a headless invisible figure, so draw the labels manually
-% as rotated text objects (which always render).
-set(gca, 'XTick', xd, 'XTickLabel', {}, 'Position', [0.13 0.20 0.80 0.70], ...
-    'FontName', 'Arial', 'FontSize', 13, 'LineWidth', 1.5, 'Box', 'off');
-drawnow;
-yl = ylim(gca);
-yb = yl(1) - 0.015 * (yl(2) - yl(1));
-for k = 1:numel(xd)
-    text(xd(k), yb, num2str(xd(k)), 'Parent', gca, 'Rotation', 90, ...
-        'HorizontalAlignment', 'right', 'VerticalAlignment', 'middle', ...
-        'FontName', 'Arial', 'FontSize', 13, 'Clipping', 'off');
-end
-xlh = get(gca, 'XLabel');            % push the axis label below the vertical ticks
-set(xlh, 'Units', 'normalized', 'Position', [0.5 -0.15 0]);
+% Compact publication layout with a tight centred plot box and ticks pointing
+% out. Setting XTickLabel {} then xticklabels('auto') resets the labels cleanly
+% after the Position change.
+set(gca, 'XTick', xd, 'XTickLabel', {}, 'Position', [0.2 0.30 0.60 0.60], ...
+    'FontName', 'Arial', 'FontSize', 13, 'LineWidth', 1.5, 'Box', 'off', 'TickDir', 'out');
+xticklabels('auto')
 drawnow;
 exportgraphics(fig, outFile, 'Resolution', 150);
 close(fig);
diff --git a/analysis/matlab/variations/unmerge_d0_5/learning_curve.png b/analysis/matlab/variations/unmerge_d0_5/learning_curve.png
index 85849e3..b0ee62f 100644
Binary files a/analysis/matlab/variations/unmerge_d0_5/learning_curve.png and b/analysis/matlab/variations/unmerge_d0_5/learning_curve.png differ
diff --git a/analysis/matlab/variations/unmerge_d0_5/learning_curve_rate.png b/analysis/matlab/variations/unmerge_d0_5/learning_curve_rate.png
index 0a31f40..4194e83 100644
Binary files a/analysis/matlab/variations/unmerge_d0_5/learning_curve_rate.png and b/analysis/matlab/variations/unmerge_d0_5/learning_curve_rate.png differ
diff --git a/analysis/matlab/variations/unmerge_d0_5/plotcurve.m b/analysis/matlab/variations/unmerge_d0_5/plotcurve.m
index 9ae48f2..6b28e51 100644
--- a/analysis/matlab/variations/unmerge_d0_5/plotcurve.m
+++ b/analysis/matlab/variations/unmerge_d0_5/plotcurve.m
@@ -38,7 +38,9 @@ legend([e1 e2], {sprintf('anodal, N = %d', na), sprintf('control, N = %d', nc)},
     'Location', 'northwest', 'Box', 'off');
 xlabel('training day'); ylabel(ylab);
 title(vname, 'Interpreter', 'none');
-
+% Compact publication layout with a tight centred plot box and ticks pointing
+% out. Setting XTickLabel {} then xticklabels('auto') resets the labels cleanly
+% after the Position change.
 set(gca, 'XTick', xd, 'XTickLabel', {}, 'Position', [0.2 0.30 0.60 0.60], ...
     'FontName', 'Arial', 'FontSize', 13, 'LineWidth', 1.5, 'Box', 'off', 'TickDir', 'out');
 xticklabels('auto')
diff --git a/analysis/matlab/variations/unmerge_d6_10/learning_curve.png b/analysis/matlab/variations/unmerge_d6_10/learning_curve.png
index 7dcb7de..9c5451d 100644
Binary files a/analysis/matlab/variations/unmerge_d6_10/learning_curve.png and b/analysis/matlab/variations/unmerge_d6_10/learning_curve.png differ
diff --git a/analysis/matlab/variations/unmerge_d6_10/learning_curve_rate.png b/analysis/matlab/variations/unmerge_d6_10/learning_curve_rate.png
index ffc52b7..e62b282 100644
Binary files a/analysis/matlab/variations/unmerge_d6_10/learning_curve_rate.png and b/analysis/matlab/variations/unmerge_d6_10/learning_curve_rate.png differ
diff --git a/analysis/matlab/variations/unmerge_d6_10/plotcurve.m b/analysis/matlab/variations/unmerge_d6_10/plotcurve.m
index 8399de2..6b28e51 100644
--- a/analysis/matlab/variations/unmerge_d6_10/plotcurve.m
+++ b/analysis/matlab/variations/unmerge_d6_10/plotcurve.m
@@ -38,21 +38,12 @@ legend([e1 e2], {sprintf('anodal, N = %d', na), sprintf('control, N = %d', nc)},
     'Location', 'northwest', 'Box', 'off');
 xlabel('training day'); ylabel(ylab);
 title(vname, 'Interpreter', 'none');
-% Vertical x-axis tick labels. XTickLabelRotation / xtickangle are NOT honored
-% by exportgraphics on a headless invisible figure, so draw the labels manually
-% as rotated text objects (which always render).
-set(gca, 'XTick', xd, 'XTickLabel', {}, 'Position', [0.13 0.20 0.80 0.70], ...
-    'FontName', 'Arial', 'FontSize', 13, 'LineWidth', 1.5, 'Box', 'off');
-drawnow;
-yl = ylim(gca);
-yb = yl(1) - 0.015 * (yl(2) - yl(1));
-for k = 1:numel(xd)
-    text(xd(k), yb, num2str(xd(k)), 'Parent', gca, 'Rotation', 90, ...
-        'HorizontalAlignment', 'right', 'VerticalAlignment', 'middle', ...
-        'FontName', 'Arial', 'FontSize', 13, 'Clipping', 'off');
-end
-xlh = get(gca, 'XLabel');            % push the axis label below the vertical ticks
-set(xlh, 'Units', 'normalized', 'Position', [0.5 -0.15 0]);
+% Compact publication layout with a tight centred plot box and ticks pointing
+% out. Setting XTickLabel {} then xticklabels('auto') resets the labels cleanly
+% after the Position change.
+set(gca, 'XTick', xd, 'XTickLabel', {}, 'Position', [0.2 0.30 0.60 0.60], ...
+    'FontName', 'Arial', 'FontSize', 13, 'LineWidth', 1.5, 'Box', 'off', 'TickDir', 'out');
+xticklabels('auto')
 drawnow;
 exportgraphics(fig, outFile, 'Resolution', 150);
 close(fig);
diff --git a/analysis/matlab/variations/unmerge_d6_13/learning_curve.png b/analysis/matlab/variations/unmerge_d6_13/learning_curve.png
index 3405af8..e638653 100644
Binary files a/analysis/matlab/variations/unmerge_d6_13/learning_curve.png and b/analysis/matlab/variations/unmerge_d6_13/learning_curve.png differ
diff --git a/analysis/matlab/variations/unmerge_d6_13/learning_curve_rate.png b/analysis/matlab/variations/unmerge_d6_13/learning_curve_rate.png
index 482bb0c..6251c71 100644
Binary files a/analysis/matlab/variations/unmerge_d6_13/learning_curve_rate.png and b/analysis/matlab/variations/unmerge_d6_13/learning_curve_rate.png differ
diff --git a/analysis/matlab/variations/unmerge_d6_13/plotcurve.m b/analysis/matlab/variations/unmerge_d6_13/plotcurve.m
index 8399de2..6b28e51 100644
--- a/analysis/matlab/variations/unmerge_d6_13/plotcurve.m
+++ b/analysis/matlab/variations/unmerge_d6_13/plotcurve.m
@@ -38,21 +38,12 @@ legend([e1 e2], {sprintf('anodal, N = %d', na), sprintf('control, N = %d', nc)},
     'Location', 'northwest', 'Box', 'off');
 xlabel('training day'); ylabel(ylab);
 title(vname, 'Interpreter', 'none');
-% Vertical x-axis tick labels. XTickLabelRotation / xtickangle are NOT honored
-% by exportgraphics on a headless invisible figure, so draw the labels manually
-% as rotated text objects (which always render).
-set(gca, 'XTick', xd, 'XTickLabel', {}, 'Position', [0.13 0.20 0.80 0.70], ...
-    'FontName', 'Arial', 'FontSize', 13, 'LineWidth', 1.5, 'Box', 'off');
-drawnow;
-yl = ylim(gca);
-yb = yl(1) - 0.015 * (yl(2) - yl(1));
-for k = 1:numel(xd)
-    text(xd(k), yb, num2str(xd(k)), 'Parent', gca, 'Rotation', 90, ...
-        'HorizontalAlignment', 'right', 'VerticalAlignment', 'middle', ...
-        'FontName', 'Arial', 'FontSize', 13, 'Clipping', 'off');
-end
-xlh = get(gca, 'XLabel');            % push the axis label below the vertical ticks
-set(xlh, 'Units', 'normalized', 'Position', [0.5 -0.15 0]);
+% Compact publication layout with a tight centred plot box and ticks pointing
+% out. Setting XTickLabel {} then xticklabels('auto') resets the labels cleanly
+% after the Position change.
+set(gca, 'XTick', xd, 'XTickLabel', {}, 'Position', [0.2 0.30 0.60 0.60], ...
+    'FontName', 'Arial', 'FontSize', 13, 'LineWidth', 1.5, 'Box', 'off', 'TickDir', 'out');
+xticklabels('auto')
 drawnow;
 exportgraphics(fig, outFile, 'Resolution', 150);
 close(fig);