Liberalism as mental illness -- NOT

The Internet is buzzing with reports that conservative political attitudes can be attributed to brain anomalies. The headlines read like this:

Tory voters found to have larger 'primitive' lobe in brain. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1342239/Brain-study-reveals-right-wing-conservatives-larger-primitive-amygdala.html#ixzz2KPgNuLPG

Study: Conservatives have larger ‘fear center’ in brain. http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2010/12/28/conservatives-fear-center-brain/

Republican fear factor: Conservatives' paranoid alternate-reality can be explained by their brain chemistry. http://www.salon.com/2012/05/03/republican_fear_factor_salpart/

Conservatism as a Mental Illness. http://ripley8.newsvine.mobi/_news/2013/01/27/16722961-conservatism-as-a-mental-illness

The headlines are based on studies like the one in Current Biology -- Political Orientations Are Correlated with Brain Structure in Young Adults (Current Biology, Volume 21, Issue 8). In this study at University College London, ninety students and two politicians self-reported their political attitudes on a five-point scale from “very liberal” to “very conservative.” Their brains were then examined using structural magnetic resonance imaging. Political attitudes were correlated with differences in brain structures.

Conservative attitudes were associated with increased volume of the right amygdala. The amygdala is an almond-shape structure involved in fear responses; hence the headlines. Let’s assume the research is flawless, the conclusions are logical, and the headlines above are well-meaning. What were the characteristics of the liberal brains, what conclusions can we draw, and what might the headlines read?

In the same study, liberal political attitudes were associated with increased volume in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC).  

The ACC has been associated with a number of psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia, obsessive–compulsive disorder, depression, and autism. Increased volume in the ACC has been specifically associated with bipolar disorder. 

Assuming the research is flawless, these headlines are equally logical.

Liberalism as mental illness.

Liberal brains hard-wired for high-risk behaviors such as spending sprees, impulsive sex, and impulsive business investments.

Liberal’s poor judgment, aggressive behavior, and breaks from reality can be explained by brain chemistry.

I believe that my liberal and conservative friends are rational, well-intentioned, and thoughtful people with free-will to choose. I believe their choices are ultimately grounded in moral reasoning and are not reducible to brain matter and physics. 

Reject neuro-maniacal metaphysical reductionism. Its always ugly.