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Spinal muscular atrophy ( SMA ) is an autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disease characterized by the selective death of lower motor neurons in the brain stem and spinal cord. SMA is caused by mutations in the survival motor neuron 1 gene ( SMN 1 ), leading to the reduced expression of the full‐length SMN protein. micro RNA s (mi RNA s) are small RNA s that regulate post‐transcriptional gene expression. Recent findings have suggested an important role for mi RNA s in the pathogenesis of motor neuron diseases, including SMA . Motor neuron‐specific mi RNA dysregulation in SMA might be implicated in their selective vulnerability. In this study, we discuss recent findings regarding the consequences of SMN defects on mi RNA s and their target mRNA s in motor neurons. Taken together, these data suggest that cell‐specific changes in mi RNA s are not only involved in the SMA motor neuron phenotype but can also be used as biomarkers and therapeutic targets.