DOES GLUTAMIC ACID ADMINISTRATION INFLUENCE MENTAL FUNCTION?

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Abstract
Thirty-three feebleminded individuals, mostly adolescents and without epilepsy or other neurologic involvement, were divided into two groups well matched as to intelligence quotient, sex, age and type of feeblemindedness. One group received orally 1(+) monosodium glutamate, 24 gm. daily, for 17 wk. The other group served as controls and received a placebo given at the same time and in like manner. Throughout the entire period of the investigation, experimental and control cases were patients in the same institution, on the same regimen and receiving the same care and diet, the latter being prepared in a central kitchen. The following psychologic tests were administered before and after the experimental period: Stanford-Binet (Form L before and Form M after), Cornell-Coxe Performance Ability Scale, Porteus Maze, Thurstone and Thurstone Primary Mental Abilities and the Rorschach Test. On the basis of detailed statistical analysis employing the method of co-variance, no significant difference between control and experimental subjects could be shown, and it was therefore concluded that a beneficial effect of glutamic acid in the treatment of feeblemindedness has not been demonstrated.

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