Abstract: It is of great significance to explore the relationship between human behavior and settlement spatial structure for the protection and transformation of traditional rural settlements. This paper takes the typical traditional rural settlements in southern Henan Province as the research object, utilizing the research method of cognitive maps to analyze the behavior and functions of contemporary village space. Furthermore, the quantitative model of space syntax is employed to verify and supplement the findings. This paper explores the spatial characteristics and transformation process of traditional rural settlements in southern Henan Province from the perspective of 'space-behavior' interaction, delving into the theoretical and practical issues surrounding the spatial transformation of traditional rural settlements. The results indicate that: From ancient times to the present, the aggregation of open spaces in traditional rural settlements in southern Henan has continuously increased. The aggregation of point spaces has grown stronger from weakness. The concentration of defensive spaces has diminished from strength. The findings reveal that: 1) Rural spaces undergo transformation and reconstruction with the continuous evolution of human behavior. The underlying logic that plays a crucial role in the overall village structure is the ongoing interaction between human behavior and rural spaces; 2) In the process of mutual influence and shaping of rural spaces by human behavior and spatial layout, differentiation emerges in the spatial transformation of rural areas.