The invention discloses a device and method for imaging behaviors of freely moving small animals. The device comprises a box, a femtosecond pulse laser, a femtosecond pulse laser modulator, a miniprobe, a data collection component and a circuit installation component. The box provides a limited space for free movement of small animals. The femtosecond pulse laser generates laser light with a wavelength of 920 nanometers. The femtosecond pulse laser modulator receives the laser light output by the femtosecond pulse laser, and pre-chirps and compensates pulse broadening of the laser light to a preset value. The miniprobe receives the laser light output by the femtosecond pulse laser modulator and receives and outputs a fluorescence signal output by a scanning imaging portion, wherein the laser light scans tissue inside a living sample so as to stimulate the living sample to generate a fluorescence signal. The data collection component collects the fluorescence signal output by the miniprobe. Laser input optical fiber and fluorescence output optical fiber are installed on the box through the circuit installation component in the mode of freely rotating relative to the box. By the adoption of the device for imaging behaviors of freely moving small animals, dendrite and dendritic spine activities of freely moving animals can be stably observed in a natural physiological environment.
Device and method for imaging behaviors of freely moving small animals