Display device

A display device comprising:

• an image display panel which updates an image in a frame cycle including an image scanning period and a vertical blanking period;
• a light modulation layer disposed at a back of the image display panel and switched to a scattering state in which incident light is scattered or a transmission state in which the incident light is transmitted according to an electric field applied;
• a light source which emits light that enters the light modulation layer from a side thereof and travels in the light modulation layer;
• electrodes which are formed according to divided areas of the light modulation layer arranged in a direction in which the light from the light source travels and which apply the electric field to the light modulation layer;
• and
• a controller which drives the electrodes in synchronization with image scanning and switches in order the divided areas to be put into the scattering state, during a first period corresponding to the image scanning period, and which drives the electrodes according to distances from the side to control the scattering state according to the divided areas, during a second period corresponding to the vertical blanking period.