diff --git a/analysis/matlab/variations/boxa_a2_d0_10/learning_curve.png b/analysis/matlab/variations/boxa_a2_d0_10/learning_curve.png
index 6ee470e..308aaf9 100644
Binary files a/analysis/matlab/variations/boxa_a2_d0_10/learning_curve.png and b/analysis/matlab/variations/boxa_a2_d0_10/learning_curve.png differ
diff --git a/analysis/matlab/variations/boxa_a2_d0_10/learning_curve_rate.png b/analysis/matlab/variations/boxa_a2_d0_10/learning_curve_rate.png
index e0668b6..d90cbc8 100644
Binary files a/analysis/matlab/variations/boxa_a2_d0_10/learning_curve_rate.png and b/analysis/matlab/variations/boxa_a2_d0_10/learning_curve_rate.png differ
diff --git a/analysis/matlab/variations/boxa_a2_d0_10/plotcurve.m b/analysis/matlab/variations/boxa_a2_d0_10/plotcurve.m
index 8399de2..6b28e51 100644
--- a/analysis/matlab/variations/boxa_a2_d0_10/plotcurve.m
+++ b/analysis/matlab/variations/boxa_a2_d0_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/boxa_a2_d0_5/learning_curve.png b/analysis/matlab/variations/boxa_a2_d0_5/learning_curve.png
index c65a575..10538f4 100644
Binary files a/analysis/matlab/variations/boxa_a2_d0_5/learning_curve.png and b/analysis/matlab/variations/boxa_a2_d0_5/learning_curve.png differ
diff --git a/analysis/matlab/variations/boxa_a2_d0_5/learning_curve_rate.png b/analysis/matlab/variations/boxa_a2_d0_5/learning_curve_rate.png
index e5f5e2d..42de80d 100644
Binary files a/analysis/matlab/variations/boxa_a2_d0_5/learning_curve_rate.png and b/analysis/matlab/variations/boxa_a2_d0_5/learning_curve_rate.png differ
diff --git a/analysis/matlab/variations/boxa_a2_d0_5/plotcurve.m b/analysis/matlab/variations/boxa_a2_d0_5/plotcurve.m
index 8399de2..6b28e51 100644
--- a/analysis/matlab/variations/boxa_a2_d0_5/plotcurve.m
+++ b/analysis/matlab/variations/boxa_a2_d0_5/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/boxa_a2_d6_10/learning_curve.png b/analysis/matlab/variations/boxa_a2_d6_10/learning_curve.png
index fbcbf0f..54380cb 100644
Binary files a/analysis/matlab/variations/boxa_a2_d6_10/learning_curve.png and b/analysis/matlab/variations/boxa_a2_d6_10/learning_curve.png differ
diff --git a/analysis/matlab/variations/boxa_a2_d6_10/learning_curve_rate.png b/analysis/matlab/variations/boxa_a2_d6_10/learning_curve_rate.png
index 9875208..25bbeb8 100644
Binary files a/analysis/matlab/variations/boxa_a2_d6_10/learning_curve_rate.png and b/analysis/matlab/variations/boxa_a2_d6_10/learning_curve_rate.png differ
diff --git a/analysis/matlab/variations/boxa_a2_d6_10/plotcurve.m b/analysis/matlab/variations/boxa_a2_d6_10/plotcurve.m
index 8399de2..6b28e51 100644
--- a/analysis/matlab/variations/boxa_a2_d6_10/plotcurve.m
+++ b/analysis/matlab/variations/boxa_a2_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/boxa_b2_d0_10/learning_curve.png b/analysis/matlab/variations/boxa_b2_d0_10/learning_curve.png
index 6d9d09b..79570a8 100644
Binary files a/analysis/matlab/variations/boxa_b2_d0_10/learning_curve.png and b/analysis/matlab/variations/boxa_b2_d0_10/learning_curve.png differ
diff --git a/analysis/matlab/variations/boxa_b2_d0_10/learning_curve_rate.png b/analysis/matlab/variations/boxa_b2_d0_10/learning_curve_rate.png
index 5cd0967..db23e23 100644
Binary files a/analysis/matlab/variations/boxa_b2_d0_10/learning_curve_rate.png and b/analysis/matlab/variations/boxa_b2_d0_10/learning_curve_rate.png differ
diff --git a/analysis/matlab/variations/boxa_b2_d0_10/plotcurve.m b/analysis/matlab/variations/boxa_b2_d0_10/plotcurve.m
index 8399de2..6b28e51 100644
--- a/analysis/matlab/variations/boxa_b2_d0_10/plotcurve.m
+++ b/analysis/matlab/variations/boxa_b2_d0_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/boxa_b2_d0_5/learning_curve.png b/analysis/matlab/variations/boxa_b2_d0_5/learning_curve.png
index 79b02b7..72c4fa1 100644
Binary files a/analysis/matlab/variations/boxa_b2_d0_5/learning_curve.png and b/analysis/matlab/variations/boxa_b2_d0_5/learning_curve.png differ
diff --git a/analysis/matlab/variations/boxa_b2_d0_5/learning_curve_rate.png b/analysis/matlab/variations/boxa_b2_d0_5/learning_curve_rate.png
index 13b617f..c3a6d01 100644
Binary files a/analysis/matlab/variations/boxa_b2_d0_5/learning_curve_rate.png and b/analysis/matlab/variations/boxa_b2_d0_5/learning_curve_rate.png differ
diff --git a/analysis/matlab/variations/boxa_b2_d0_5/plotcurve.m b/analysis/matlab/variations/boxa_b2_d0_5/plotcurve.m
index 8399de2..6b28e51 100644
--- a/analysis/matlab/variations/boxa_b2_d0_5/plotcurve.m
+++ b/analysis/matlab/variations/boxa_b2_d0_5/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/boxa_b2_d6_10/learning_curve.png b/analysis/matlab/variations/boxa_b2_d6_10/learning_curve.png
index 52fb8f6..275c491 100644
Binary files a/analysis/matlab/variations/boxa_b2_d6_10/learning_curve.png and b/analysis/matlab/variations/boxa_b2_d6_10/learning_curve.png differ
diff --git a/analysis/matlab/variations/boxa_b2_d6_10/learning_curve_rate.png b/analysis/matlab/variations/boxa_b2_d6_10/learning_curve_rate.png
index 01e8b5f..91c10c0 100644
Binary files a/analysis/matlab/variations/boxa_b2_d6_10/learning_curve_rate.png and b/analysis/matlab/variations/boxa_b2_d6_10/learning_curve_rate.png differ
diff --git a/analysis/matlab/variations/boxa_b2_d6_10/plotcurve.m b/analysis/matlab/variations/boxa_b2_d6_10/plotcurve.m
index 8399de2..6b28e51 100644
--- a/analysis/matlab/variations/boxa_b2_d6_10/plotcurve.m
+++ b/analysis/matlab/variations/boxa_b2_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/matched_current_d0_3/learning_curve.png b/analysis/matlab/variations/matched_current_d0_3/learning_curve.png
index 05bd29f..12db143 100644
Binary files a/analysis/matlab/variations/matched_current_d0_3/learning_curve.png and b/analysis/matlab/variations/matched_current_d0_3/learning_curve.png differ
diff --git a/analysis/matlab/variations/matched_current_d0_3/learning_curve_rate.png b/analysis/matlab/variations/matched_current_d0_3/learning_curve_rate.png
index c32453e..99d158f 100644
Binary files a/analysis/matlab/variations/matched_current_d0_3/learning_curve_rate.png and b/analysis/matlab/variations/matched_current_d0_3/learning_curve_rate.png differ
diff --git a/analysis/matlab/variations/matched_current_d0_3/plotcurve.m b/analysis/matlab/variations/matched_current_d0_3/plotcurve.m
index 8399de2..6b28e51 100644
--- a/analysis/matlab/variations/matched_current_d0_3/plotcurve.m
+++ b/analysis/matlab/variations/matched_current_d0_3/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/naive_a2_d0_10/learning_curve.png b/analysis/matlab/variations/naive_a2_d0_10/learning_curve.png
index 39c3e4d..1ec1e6f 100644
Binary files a/analysis/matlab/variations/naive_a2_d0_10/learning_curve.png and b/analysis/matlab/variations/naive_a2_d0_10/learning_curve.png differ
diff --git a/analysis/matlab/variations/naive_a2_d0_10/learning_curve_rate.png b/analysis/matlab/variations/naive_a2_d0_10/learning_curve_rate.png
index b9ee0e9..8a55944 100644
Binary files a/analysis/matlab/variations/naive_a2_d0_10/learning_curve_rate.png and b/analysis/matlab/variations/naive_a2_d0_10/learning_curve_rate.png differ
diff --git a/analysis/matlab/variations/naive_a2_d0_10/plotcurve.m b/analysis/matlab/variations/naive_a2_d0_10/plotcurve.m
index 8399de2..6b28e51 100644
--- a/analysis/matlab/variations/naive_a2_d0_10/plotcurve.m
+++ b/analysis/matlab/variations/naive_a2_d0_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);