AbstractThe main objective of the present paper is to further investigate finite‐time synchronization of a general complex dynamical network from the viewpoint of dynamics and control. By utilizing the finite‐time stability theory combined with the inequality techniques, several sufficient criteria on finite‐time synchronization are derived analytically. And some effects of control parameters on synchronization speed and synchronization time are also drawn. It is shown that control gains play an important role in making the dynamical networks finite‐time exponentially synchronized. Furthermore, the results are applied to a typical nearest‐neighbor coupled network composing of chaotic FitzHugh‐Nagumo (FHN) neuron oscillators, and numerical simulations are given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed control methodology.