The PsychoModels Database – Facilitating the Exchange of Formal Models

In this article, we address the fragmented landscape of formal model sharing in psychological science by introducing PsychoModels, an online repository for improving models’ accessibility, reusability, and interoperability. Psychological research often relies on idiosyncratic approaches for model documentation and communication, which hampers transparency, limits reuse, and stifles collaborative growth. Inspired by successful repositories in other academic fields, PsychoModels aims to be a central platform where mathematical and computational models are stored, indexed, and described following FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable). The platform will enable structured searches of models by discipline, framework, and language, thus enhancing discoverability by both novice and expert users. Moreover, PsychoModels can emphasize ease of use through detailed model annotations, implementation guidelines, and links to external resources, bridging the gap between theory and application. Through the stimulation of community-driven peer review and model-sharing standards, PsychoModels will aspire to enhance reproducibility and foster a collaborative ecosystem within psychological modelling. In this article, we explain the philosophy behind PsychoModels, demonstrate the application of the database’s preliminary version, and present plans for future development.