A dimeric biradical •M plays a central role in the initiation of the spontancous polymerization of methyl methacrylate (M1). Besides the initiation step by chain transfer reaction, a change of the multiplicity of ˙M seems to be of importance. Evidence is given by heavy atoms in the solvent or in an inert gas atmosphere, leading to an acceleration of the overall polymerization rate. The observed effect is related to the atomic number of the respective heavy atom. Measurements of the temperature dependence of the effect for carbon tetrachloride show that — as expected — no activation energy is needed for this reaction step. The results are summarized in a reaction scheme for the initiation me…