A method for building a water maze spatial learning and memory model for tree shrews includes: screening tree shrews before test, preparing experimental facilities, carrying out experimental operations and determining model building indexes. The model building indexes determined in the method includes that accuracy is more than 90% in a place navigation test, and an average latency between 20s and 25s serves as a standard of a spatial learning model built by a tree shrew in the water maze test; and in a space exploration test, a spatial memory model built by the tree shrew in the water maze test is determined according to significant difference of ratio of time spent in the target quadrant and crossing times before and after training.