OBJECTIVES: To investigate gene expression dynamics in adult primate neocortex and elucidate the molecular basis of these capabilities. METHODS: Whole-cell transcriptome data from primary visual cortex (V1) of cynomolgus monkeys were analyzed, focusing on inhibitory neurons derived from the medial ganglionic eminence. Using RNA velocity and scVelo algorithms, we investigated subtle gene expression shifts, identified key driver genes, and conducted functional enrichment analysis. RESULTS: Our analysis revealed that somatostatin ( CONCLUSIONS: This study provides novel insights into the gene expression dynamics of the primate neocortex. Genes involved in neuronal development and plasticity may underlie the advanced information-processing capabilities in primates.