Display apparatus and method of driving display panel using the same

A method of driving a display panel, the method comprising:

• determining whether input image data correspond to a non-rectangular display area or a rectangular display area;
• determining, in response to the determination that the input image data corresponds to the non-rectangular display area, a first average load of a first unit area based on a first average grayscale value of the first unit area and a pixel area ratio of the first unit area;
• determining, in response to the determination that the input image data corresponds to the non-rectangular display area, a first temperature diffusion load of the first unit area based on average loads, temperature diffusion ratios, and weight ratios of adjacent unit areas adjacent to the first unit area;
• compensating, in response to the determination that the input image data corresponds to the non-rectangular display area, the input image data based on the first average load of the first unit area and the first temperature diffusion load of the first unit area to generate a first compensated data signal;
• and
• displaying an image based on the first compensated data signal.