microRNAs and the regulation of neuronal plasticity under stress conditions.

•The effects of stress on neuronal plasticity largely differ between brain regions.•Brain adaptation to stress involves coordinated and region-specific changes in gene expression.•microRNAs are small non-coding RNAs involved in fine regulation of gene expression.•In brain regions affected by stress, microRNAs are important regulators of neuronal plasticity.•Here, we focus on molecular mechanisms imparting specificity to target regulation by microRNAs.