Figure 3.

Comparing the behavior of multi-scale models (determined with virtual experiments) and the behavior of a biological system (determined with wet-lab experiments). The degree to which a model captures the biological system is represented by overlap between the model and biological system shapes (purple and yellow, or green and yellow). The degree to which the fine- and coarse-grained models predict the same behavior is represented by overlap between the purple and green shapes. In order to toggle between the two models to simulate resolution tuning, acceptable similarities (sufficient congruency) for the same set of phenomena must be observed. After initial sensitivity and uncertainty analyses, phenomena overlap between the sibling models is typically inadequate, indicating that further refinements are needed, possibly in both models, providing a degree of cross-model validation (panels a–c). Because the two model versions are not the same, we should not expect complete overlap across their full range of realizations. Hayenga et al.¹⁰⁶ provide an instructive demonstration of achieving congruency between an agent-based and a continuum-based biomechanical model.