Q: How to make a plot insert?

SUBPLOT command is great as long as you want non-intersecting panels. In order to make a plot insert, however, you have to use AXES function directly, e.g. 

 plot(something)
 new_axis = axes('position',[ 0.15 0.15 0.3 0.3]);
 plot(something else)
Figuring the correct 'position' property of the new axis may be a bit tricky. Instead, I usually create it first using some arbitrary values (like in the example above), then resize the new axis, move it where I want it (you need to select the axis and choose Tools | Unlock Axes Position to be able to do that), and then get the corresponding 'position': 
 get(new_axis,'position')
and insert it in the final code, probably fine-tuning it for better alignment.

Often it is useful to make the background of the insert transparent (like in the plot to the right): 

 set(new_axis,'color','none');
... or get rid of the axes box altogether (like I did in the final version of the plot): 
 set(new_axis,'visible','off');