A detailed study of the 4 He longitudinal response function RL(ω, q) is performed at different kinematics, with particular emphasis on the role of three-nucleon forces. The effects shown are the results of an ab initio calculation where the full four-body continuum dynamics is considered via the Lorentz integral transform method. The contributions of the various multipoles to the longitudinal response function are analyzed and integral properties of the response are discussed in addition. The Argonne V18 nucleon-nucleon interaction and two different three-nucleon force models (Urbana IX, Tucson-Melbourne ′ ) are used. At lower momentum transfer (q ≤ 200 MeV/c) three-nucleon forces play an important role. One even finds a dependence of RL on the three-nucleon force model itself with differences up to 10%. Thus a Rosenbluth separation of the inclusive electron scattering cross section of 4 He at low momentum transfer would be of high value in view of a discrimination between different three-nucleon force models.