The Role of Glutamate in Language and Language Disorders - Evidence from ERP and Pharmacologic Studies

•L-Glutamate neurotransmission likely plays a physiologic role in the regulation of language access, comprehension, and production.•NMDA, AMPA, and mGlu Receptor dysregulation is implicated in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s Disease, FXTAS, and Stroke, and may contribute to language dysfunction in these diseases.•Memantine, a selective NMDA receptor antagonist, improves language function in Alzheimer’s Disease, FXTAS, and Post-Stroke Aphasia patients based on patient report and language-battery tests.•Memantine normalizes language-related ERPs (closer to healthy-controls) in post-stroke aphasia and FXTAS patients.•Ketamine, another NMDAR receptor antagonist, affects language-related ERPs in non-aphasic subjects.