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.

Buxton History Tour offers an insight into the fascinating history of this Derbyshire spa town. Author Alan Roberts guides us around its well-known streets and buildings, showing how its famous landmarks used to look and how they have changed over the years as well as exploring its lesser-known sights and hidden corners. With the help of a handy location map, readers are invited to follow a timeline of events and discover for themselves the changing face of Buxton.

Buxton's growth as an inland spa town began in the 1780s when The Crescent was built for the Duke of Devonshire. This was followed by the natural baths, thermal baths, pump room and several large hydropathic establishments. Buxton became a fashionable spa resort, its popularity later boosted by the arrival of the railways. Large villas and hotels were built, as well as a range of entertainment facilities including the Pavilion Gardens and Opera House, to cater for the town's many visitors. By contrast, Buxton is also considered the gateway to the Peak district. The town's position, high up in the hills and at the head of the Wye valley, gives easy access to miles of stunning scenery. Using a fascinating collection of old and new photographs Buxton Through Time sets out to illustrate these many remarkable features and how they have adapted to the passage of time.

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.