Interestingly, women rarely become psychopaths—the disorder affects ten males for every one female—and they have larger insulae than men relative to total brain size. This anatomical distinction may explain why they’re the sex most sensitive to disgust, and it may also have bearing on yet another traditionally feminine characteristic: as befits women’s role as primary caretakers, they score higher than men on tests of empathy—a very useful trait for gauging when a cranky baby has a fever or needs a nap.
