diff --git a/analysis/matlab/variations/unmerge_d0_13/learning_curve.png b/analysis/matlab/variations/unmerge_d0_13/learning_curve.png
index 42a7ebe..20a9bd6 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 c46fa66..8f9c485 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 4c60752..dfcf58d 100644
--- a/analysis/matlab/variations/unmerge_d0_13/plotcurve.m
+++ b/analysis/matlab/variations/unmerge_d0_13/plotcurve.m
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ e2 = errorbar(xd, Mc, Sc, '-o', 'Color', blue, 'MarkerFaceColor', blue, 'LineWid
 hold off
 legend([e1 e2], {sprintf('anodal, N = %d', na), sprintf('control, N = %d', nc)}, ...
     'Location', 'northwest', 'Box', 'off');
-xlabel('training day'); ylabel(ylab);
+xlabel('training day'); ylh = 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
@@ -44,11 +44,16 @@ title(vname, 'Interpreter', 'none');
 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')
+set(gca, 'XTickLabelRotation', 0);   % keep x labels horizontal (no auto-rotate)
 if strcmp(metric, 'count')       % success count: y-ticks every 5 units
     yl = ylim(gca);
     set(gca, 'YTick', floor(yl(1) / 5) * 5 : 5 : ceil(yl(2) / 5) * 5);
 end
 grid on
+% Add breathing room between the y-axis label and the tick numbers.
+set(ylh, 'Units', 'normalized');
+yp = get(ylh, 'Position');
+set(ylh, 'Position', [yp(1) - 0.06, yp(2), 0]);
 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 224e28b..e845cf3 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 23e30b2..04a3699 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 4c60752..dfcf58d 100644
--- a/analysis/matlab/variations/unmerge_d0_5/plotcurve.m
+++ b/analysis/matlab/variations/unmerge_d0_5/plotcurve.m
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ e2 = errorbar(xd, Mc, Sc, '-o', 'Color', blue, 'MarkerFaceColor', blue, 'LineWid
 hold off
 legend([e1 e2], {sprintf('anodal, N = %d', na), sprintf('control, N = %d', nc)}, ...
     'Location', 'northwest', 'Box', 'off');
-xlabel('training day'); ylabel(ylab);
+xlabel('training day'); ylh = 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
@@ -44,11 +44,16 @@ title(vname, 'Interpreter', 'none');
 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')
+set(gca, 'XTickLabelRotation', 0);   % keep x labels horizontal (no auto-rotate)
 if strcmp(metric, 'count')       % success count: y-ticks every 5 units
     yl = ylim(gca);
     set(gca, 'YTick', floor(yl(1) / 5) * 5 : 5 : ceil(yl(2) / 5) * 5);
 end
 grid on
+% Add breathing room between the y-axis label and the tick numbers.
+set(ylh, 'Units', 'normalized');
+yp = get(ylh, 'Position');
+set(ylh, 'Position', [yp(1) - 0.06, yp(2), 0]);
 drawnow;
 exportgraphics(fig, outFile, 'Resolution', 150);
 close(fig);
diff --git a/analysis/matlab/variations/unmerge_d6_10/learning_curve.png b/analysis/matlab/variations/unmerge_d6_10/learning_curve.png
index fce7ca3..78e2567 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 2f51b82..fd7aa33 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 4c60752..dfcf58d 100644
--- a/analysis/matlab/variations/unmerge_d6_10/plotcurve.m
+++ b/analysis/matlab/variations/unmerge_d6_10/plotcurve.m
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ e2 = errorbar(xd, Mc, Sc, '-o', 'Color', blue, 'MarkerFaceColor', blue, 'LineWid
 hold off
 legend([e1 e2], {sprintf('anodal, N = %d', na), sprintf('control, N = %d', nc)}, ...
     'Location', 'northwest', 'Box', 'off');
-xlabel('training day'); ylabel(ylab);
+xlabel('training day'); ylh = 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
@@ -44,11 +44,16 @@ title(vname, 'Interpreter', 'none');
 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')
+set(gca, 'XTickLabelRotation', 0);   % keep x labels horizontal (no auto-rotate)
 if strcmp(metric, 'count')       % success count: y-ticks every 5 units
     yl = ylim(gca);
     set(gca, 'YTick', floor(yl(1) / 5) * 5 : 5 : ceil(yl(2) / 5) * 5);
 end
 grid on
+% Add breathing room between the y-axis label and the tick numbers.
+set(ylh, 'Units', 'normalized');
+yp = get(ylh, 'Position');
+set(ylh, 'Position', [yp(1) - 0.06, yp(2), 0]);
 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 dc88e83..0e9fb5a 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 ff6c023..cea093f 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 4c60752..dfcf58d 100644
--- a/analysis/matlab/variations/unmerge_d6_13/plotcurve.m
+++ b/analysis/matlab/variations/unmerge_d6_13/plotcurve.m
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ e2 = errorbar(xd, Mc, Sc, '-o', 'Color', blue, 'MarkerFaceColor', blue, 'LineWid
 hold off
 legend([e1 e2], {sprintf('anodal, N = %d', na), sprintf('control, N = %d', nc)}, ...
     'Location', 'northwest', 'Box', 'off');
-xlabel('training day'); ylabel(ylab);
+xlabel('training day'); ylh = 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
@@ -44,11 +44,16 @@ title(vname, 'Interpreter', 'none');
 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')
+set(gca, 'XTickLabelRotation', 0);   % keep x labels horizontal (no auto-rotate)
 if strcmp(metric, 'count')       % success count: y-ticks every 5 units
     yl = ylim(gca);
     set(gca, 'YTick', floor(yl(1) / 5) * 5 : 5 : ceil(yl(2) / 5) * 5);
 end
 grid on
+% Add breathing room between the y-axis label and the tick numbers.
+set(ylh, 'Units', 'normalized');
+yp = get(ylh, 'Position');
+set(ylh, 'Position', [yp(1) - 0.06, yp(2), 0]);
 drawnow;
 exportgraphics(fig, outFile, 'Resolution', 150);
 close(fig);