Cardiac electrophysiological experiments in numero, Part I: Concepts and strategies of mathematical and computer models.

This article is the first of three articles that review mathematical and computer models of the heart and describe their construction, development, research potential, and clinical utility. This article explains the methodological principles of mathematical and computer simulation of biomedical systems. The strategies of model construction, testing, and application are presented; the advantages and limitations of computer simulation studies are explained, and the basic value of computer simulation for cardiological research and practice is discussed.