Fig 4. Statistical null model hypotheses (schematic).

By shuffling bout duration or bout order and comparing the resultant null hypothesis transition matrices to the maximum likelihood estimate, we identify which features are statistically significant in the data and contribute to sequence structure. Shown here are schematics of the permutations we perform on the observed ethograms to generate null hypothesis transition matrices. In the duration permuted hypothesis, bout order is preserved but duration categories are randomly permuted (h = head, wk = walking, f = front leg, s = short, m = medium, l = long). In the order permuted hypothesis, bout order is permuted but the durations associated with each bout remain the same.