A Cognition-Driven Framework for Rural Space Gene Extraction and Transmission: Evidence from the Guanzhong Region

Understanding the formation logic and spatial organization of vernacular settlements requires analytical approaches that capture both morphological structures and the cognitive rules underlying residents’ interactions with space. However, existing research on rural spatial patterns has paid limited attention to the perceptual and cognitive mechanisms through which spatial genes are recognized, maintained, and reproduced. This gap limits the development of generalizable and bottom-up methods for interpreting and transmitting rural spatial characteristics. To address this gap, this study proposes a cognition-driven analytical framework supported by spatial analysis for rural space gene extraction and transmission. The framework consists of five interrelated components: environmental cognition, spatial element identification, system coupling, space gene extraction, and transmission mechanisms. The Guanzhong Region in Northwest China is selected as a representative case to examine the multi-scale spatial structure of vernacular settlements. The results reveal three major findings. (1) The proposed framework effectively links physical spatial features with local perceptual structures, enabling the identification of key elements constituting rural space gene. (2) Three categories of representative space gene and seven core morphological and functional factors are extracted through the coupled analysis of nature–settlement systems. (3) Three adaptive transmission mechanisms—element replication and reinforcement, recombination of disrupted elements, and controlled adjustment of characteristic elements—are identified to support spatial renewal while maintaining local distinctiveness. This research contributes a structured, scalable, and replicable workflow for rural space gene analysis and enhances the application of cognitive principles in geospatial modeling. The findings provide methodological and practical support for rural revitalization, cultural landscape conservation, and vernacular settlement planning in inland agrarian regions undergoing rapid transformation.