Jeanne Erdmann is an award-winning health and science writer based in Wentzville, Mo. A member of Association of
Health Care Journalists board of directors, she is the chair of the organization’s Freelance Committee. Her work has appeared in Discover, Women’s Health, Aeon, Slate, The Washington Post, Nature, Nature Medicine and other publications. You can follow her at @jeanne_erdmann.
Jeanne Erdmann
From this contributor
Analysis pins down prevalence of mental health conditions in autism
Eight mental health conditions occur unusually often in autistic people, a new analysis suggests.
Analysis pins down prevalence of mental health conditions in autism
By
Jeanne Erdmann
7 October 2019 | 2 min read
Drug screen reveals potential treatments for Rett syndrome
An experimental leukemia drug and a chemical in black pepper ease breathing and movement problems in a mouse model of Rett syndrome.
Drug screen reveals potential treatments for Rett syndrome
By
Jeanne Erdmann
11 September 2019 | 4 min read
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Some facial expressions are less reflexive than previously thought
A countenance such as a grimace activates many of the same cortical pathways as voluntary facial movements.
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Natalia Mesa
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Cracking the neural code for emotional states
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Cracking the neural code for emotional states
Rather than act as a simple switchboard for innate behaviors, the hypothalamus encodes an animal's internal state, which influences behavior.
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Natalia Mesa
8 January 2026 | 8 min read