Objective To develop a multi-mode, detailed and sensitive object recognition method for learning and memory research, including novel object recognition task, object location recognition task, temporal order memory task and object context recognition task in animals based on their spontaneous behavior. Methods Two strains of mice (KM and ICR) and four patterns were used to establish the object recognition method and several relative factors, such as time of test phase, delay between test phase and familiar phase were investigated. Results It was stable and reasonable to set the time of familiar phase as 5 min, the interval between test phase and familiar phase as 10 min, and the time of test phase as 3-5 min, under the precondition of habituation for three days and selecting the appropriate object pairs. Conclusions Object recognition test including four patterns has been systematically established as a stable, reliable and normative way for the research of animal learning and memory and drug development.