Alan Roberts – författare

Recent improvements in techniques of recording from single neurones have revealed that many do not usually fire impulses. This book reviews all known examples and considers how neurones can function without impulses. The results summarised are of central importance to our understanding of how nervous systems function at the cellular level.

Matlock is located on the River Derwent in a fairly central position in Derbyshire. At Matlock, the Derwent carves its way through hard limestone rock, creating Matlock Dale, one of Derbyshire's most spectacular dales, with crossing points of the river at each end of the dale, at Matlock and at Cromford. Matlock Bridge lies on an ancient route formerly used for the transport of locally mined lead eastwards to Nottingham and beyond.Matlock developed rapidly following the arrival of the railway in 1849, giving it a legacy of fine nineteenth century buildings. Matlock Bath developed as a popular inland resort from the eighteenth century, set in the beautiful scenery of Matlock Dale. At the southern end of the dale, Richard Arkwright constructed Masson Mill in 1783 and this site is now the start of the Derwent Valley World Heritage Site (designated in 2001).

Humour is a funny thing - everyone knows it but no-one knows what it is. This book addresses the question 'What is humour?' by first untangling the definitions of humour, amusement and funniness before then providing a new theory of humour which draws upon recent research in philosophy, psychology, linguistics and neuroscience. The theory is built up without assuming any prior knowledge and illustrated through humorous examples which are both entertaining and educational for anyone curious about what makes things funny. The book is then an accessible illumination of joking matters from dinner tables to online platforms to comedy clubs.