The justice ministry has begun using neurological testing in an effort to find out more about juvenile delinquents, junior minister Klaas Dijkhoff told MPs on Thursday.

Research by the ministry’s scientific institute WODC shows that understanding more about the brains and nervous system of young criminals could lead to better forms of treatment, the minister said.

The research, published earlier on Thursday, claims that neuroscience is ‘one of the pieces of the puzzle needed to explain human behaviour’ alongside psychological and social factors.

The tests will involve measuring youngsters heart rates to monitor aggression and stress and hormone testing.

‘The results could also be useful to the person his or herself by pointing to a raised level of stress at an early stage,’ the minister said.

The WODC has also recommended that youth prisons look at the potentially positive impact of food supplements and brain games, as well as the use of therapeutic computer games.

The minister said the first results of the trials will be published in 2018 and 2019.