diff --git a/autotests/folding/highlight.pl.fold b/autotests/folding/highlight.pl.fold
--- a/autotests/folding/highlight.pl.fold
+++ b/autotests/folding/highlight.pl.fold
@@ -53,3 +53,23 @@
 
 &blah;
 prg(<beginfold id='2'>"</beginfold id='2'>test<endfold id='2'>"</endfold id='2'>);
+
+# Bracket closures in RegExp patterns (bug #364866)
+qr<beginfold id='5'>{</beginfold id='5'> ${var} aa{aa{a}a} aa*b?<endfold id='5'>}</endfold id='5'>;
+qr<beginfold id='5'>(</beginfold id='5'>aa(a(a(a(b|c)a)a)a)aa*b?<endfold id='5'>)</endfold id='5'>;
+s<beginfold id='5'>{</beginfold id='5'>aaa {aaa} a \x{A2} *b?<endfold id='5'>}</endfold id='5'><beginfold id='7'>{</beginfold id='7'>aa<endfold id='7'>}</endfold id='7'>;
+s<beginfold id='5'>(</beginfold id='5'>aa(a(a(a(b|c)a)a)a)aa<endfold id='5'>)</endfold id='5'><beginfold id='7'>(</beginfold id='7'>aa<endfold id='7'>)</endfold id='7'>;
+
+# Strings as scalar references (bug #348765)
+$x = \<beginfold id='2'>'</beginfold id='2'>Reference of a String<endfold id='2'>'</endfold id='2'>;
+$y = \<beginfold id='2'>"</beginfold id='2'>Reference of a String<endfold id='2'>"</endfold id='2'>;
+
+# Variables that start with underscore (bug #355300)
+$_variable
+$_ # Reserved var.
+
+for my $x ($hash-><beginfold id='4'>{</beginfold id='4'>arr<endfold id='4'>}</endfold id='4'>->@*) <beginfold id='4'>{</beginfold id='4'>
+    for my $k (keys $k->%*) <beginfold id='4'>{</beginfold id='4'>
+        ...
+    <endfold id='4'>}</endfold id='4'>
+<endfold id='4'>}</endfold id='4'>
diff --git a/autotests/html/highlight.pl.html b/autotests/html/highlight.pl.html
--- a/autotests/html/highlight.pl.html
+++ b/autotests/html/highlight.pl.html
@@ -59,4 +59,24 @@
 
 &amp;blah;
 prg(<span style="color:#008000;font-weight:bold;">&quot;</span><span style="color:#bf0303;">test</span><span style="color:#008000;font-weight:bold;">&quot;</span>);
+
+<span style="color:#898887;"># Bracket closures in RegExp patterns (bug #364866)</span>
+<span style="color:#008000;font-weight:bold;">qr{</span><span style="color:#006e28;"> </span><span style="color:#924c9d;">$</span><span style="color:#006e28;">{var} aa{aa{a}a} aa</span><span style="color:#924c9d;">*</span><span style="color:#006e28;">b</span><span style="color:#924c9d;">?</span><span style="color:#008000;font-weight:bold;">}</span>;
+<span style="color:#008000;font-weight:bold;">qr(</span><span style="color:#006e28;">aa</span><span style="color:#924c9d;">(</span><span style="color:#006e28;">a</span><span style="color:#924c9d;">(</span><span style="color:#006e28;">a</span><span style="color:#924c9d;">(</span><span style="color:#006e28;">a</span><span style="color:#924c9d;">(</span><span style="color:#006e28;">b</span><span style="color:#924c9d;">|</span><span style="color:#006e28;">c</span><span style="color:#924c9d;">)</span><span style="color:#006e28;">a</span><span style="color:#924c9d;">)</span><span style="color:#006e28;">a</span><span style="color:#924c9d;">)</span><span style="color:#006e28;">a</span><span style="color:#924c9d;">)</span><span style="color:#006e28;">aa</span><span style="color:#924c9d;">*</span><span style="color:#006e28;">b</span><span style="color:#924c9d;">?</span><span style="color:#008000;font-weight:bold;">)</span>;
+<span style="color:#008000;font-weight:bold;">s{</span><span style="color:#006e28;">aaa {aaa} a </span><span style="color:#c00000;">\x{A2}</span><span style="color:#006e28;"> </span><span style="color:#924c9d;">*</span><span style="color:#006e28;">b</span><span style="color:#924c9d;">?</span><span style="color:#008000;font-weight:bold;">}{</span><span style="color:#bf0303;">aa</span><span style="color:#008000;font-weight:bold;">}</span>;
+<span style="color:#008000;font-weight:bold;">s(</span><span style="color:#006e28;">aa</span><span style="color:#924c9d;">(</span><span style="color:#006e28;">a</span><span style="color:#924c9d;">(</span><span style="color:#006e28;">a</span><span style="color:#924c9d;">(</span><span style="color:#006e28;">a</span><span style="color:#924c9d;">(</span><span style="color:#006e28;">b</span><span style="color:#924c9d;">|</span><span style="color:#006e28;">c</span><span style="color:#924c9d;">)</span><span style="color:#006e28;">a</span><span style="color:#924c9d;">)</span><span style="color:#006e28;">a</span><span style="color:#924c9d;">)</span><span style="color:#006e28;">a</span><span style="color:#924c9d;">)</span><span style="color:#006e28;">aa</span><span style="color:#008000;font-weight:bold;">)(</span><span style="color:#bf0303;">aa</span><span style="color:#008000;font-weight:bold;">)</span>;
+
+<span style="color:#898887;"># Strings as scalar references (bug #348765)</span>
+<span style="color:#0057ae;">$x</span> = \<span style="color:#008000;font-weight:bold;">'</span><span style="color:#ff6c6c;">Reference of a String</span><span style="color:#008000;font-weight:bold;">'</span>;
+<span style="color:#0057ae;">$y</span> = \<span style="color:#008000;font-weight:bold;">&quot;</span><span style="color:#bf0303;">Reference of a String</span><span style="color:#008000;font-weight:bold;">&quot;</span>;
+
+<span style="color:#898887;"># Variables that start with underscore (bug #355300)</span>
+<span style="color:#0057ae;">$_variable</span>
+<span style="color:#c00000;">$_</span> <span style="color:#898887;"># Reserved var.</span>
+
+<span style="font-weight:bold;">for</span> <span style="font-weight:bold;">my</span> <span style="color:#0057ae;">$x</span> (<span style="color:#0057ae;">$hash</span>-&gt;{arr}-&gt;<span style="color:#0057ae;">@</span><span style="color:#008000;font-weight:bold;">*</span>) {
+    <span style="font-weight:bold;">for</span> <span style="font-weight:bold;">my</span> <span style="color:#0057ae;">$k</span> (<span style="color:#644a9b;">keys</span> <span style="color:#0057ae;">$k</span>-&gt;%<span style="color:#008000;font-weight:bold;">*</span>) {
+        ...
+    }
+}
 </pre></body></html>
diff --git a/autotests/input/highlight.pl b/autotests/input/highlight.pl
--- a/autotests/input/highlight.pl
+++ b/autotests/input/highlight.pl
@@ -53,3 +53,23 @@
 
 &blah;
 prg("test");
+
+# Bracket closures in RegExp patterns (bug #364866)
+qr{ ${var} aa{aa{a}a} aa*b?};
+qr(aa(a(a(a(b|c)a)a)a)aa*b?);
+s{aaa {aaa} a \x{A2} *b?}{aa};
+s(aa(a(a(a(b|c)a)a)a)aa)(aa);
+
+# Strings as scalar references (bug #348765)
+$x = \'Reference of a String';
+$y = \"Reference of a String";
+
+# Variables that start with underscore (bug #355300)
+$_variable
+$_ # Reserved var.
+
+for my $x ($hash->{arr}->@*) {
+    for my $k (keys $k->%*) {
+        ...
+    }
+}
diff --git a/autotests/reference/highlight.pl.ref b/autotests/reference/highlight.pl.ref
--- a/autotests/reference/highlight.pl.ref
+++ b/autotests/reference/highlight.pl.ref
@@ -53,3 +53,23 @@
 <Normal Text></Normal Text><br/>
 <Normal Text>&blah;</Normal Text><br/>
 <Normal Text>prg(</Normal Text><Operator>"</Operator><String (interpolated)>test</String (interpolated)><Operator>"</Operator><Normal Text>);</Normal Text><br/>
+<Normal Text></Normal Text><br/>
+<Comment># Bracket closures in RegExp patterns (bug #364866)</Comment><br/>
+<Operator>qr{</Operator><Pattern> </Pattern><Pattern Internal Operator>$</Pattern Internal Operator><Pattern>{var} aa{aa{a}a} aa</Pattern><Pattern Internal Operator>*</Pattern Internal Operator><Pattern>b</Pattern><Pattern Internal Operator>?</Pattern Internal Operator><Operator>}</Operator><Normal Text>;</Normal Text><br/>
+<Operator>qr(</Operator><Pattern>aa</Pattern><Pattern Internal Operator>(</Pattern Internal Operator><Pattern>a</Pattern><Pattern Internal Operator>(</Pattern Internal Operator><Pattern>a</Pattern><Pattern Internal Operator>(</Pattern Internal Operator><Pattern>a</Pattern><Pattern Internal Operator>(</Pattern Internal Operator><Pattern>b</Pattern><Pattern Internal Operator>|</Pattern Internal Operator><Pattern>c</Pattern><Pattern Internal Operator>)</Pattern Internal Operator><Pattern>a</Pattern><Pattern Internal Operator>)</Pattern Internal Operator><Pattern>a</Pattern><Pattern Internal Operator>)</Pattern Internal Operator><Pattern>a</Pattern><Pattern Internal Operator>)</Pattern Internal Operator><Pattern>aa</Pattern><Pattern Internal Operator>*</Pattern Internal Operator><Pattern>b</Pattern><Pattern Internal Operator>?</Pattern Internal Operator><Operator>)</Operator><Normal Text>;</Normal Text><br/>
+<Operator>s{</Operator><Pattern>aaa {aaa} a </Pattern><Special Variable>\x{A2}</Special Variable><Pattern> </Pattern><Pattern Internal Operator>*</Pattern Internal Operator><Pattern>b</Pattern><Pattern Internal Operator>?</Pattern Internal Operator><Operator>}{</Operator><String (interpolated)>aa</String (interpolated)><Operator>}</Operator><Normal Text>;</Normal Text><br/>
+<Operator>s(</Operator><Pattern>aa</Pattern><Pattern Internal Operator>(</Pattern Internal Operator><Pattern>a</Pattern><Pattern Internal Operator>(</Pattern Internal Operator><Pattern>a</Pattern><Pattern Internal Operator>(</Pattern Internal Operator><Pattern>a</Pattern><Pattern Internal Operator>(</Pattern Internal Operator><Pattern>b</Pattern><Pattern Internal Operator>|</Pattern Internal Operator><Pattern>c</Pattern><Pattern Internal Operator>)</Pattern Internal Operator><Pattern>a</Pattern><Pattern Internal Operator>)</Pattern Internal Operator><Pattern>a</Pattern><Pattern Internal Operator>)</Pattern Internal Operator><Pattern>a</Pattern><Pattern Internal Operator>)</Pattern Internal Operator><Pattern>aa</Pattern><Operator>)(</Operator><String (interpolated)>aa</String (interpolated)><Operator>)</Operator><Normal Text>;</Normal Text><br/>
+<Normal Text></Normal Text><br/>
+<Comment># Strings as scalar references (bug #348765)</Comment><br/>
+<Data Type>$x</Data Type><Normal Text> = \</Normal Text><Operator>'</Operator><String>Reference of a String</String><Operator>'</Operator><Normal Text>;</Normal Text><br/>
+<Data Type>$y</Data Type><Normal Text> = \</Normal Text><Operator>"</Operator><String (interpolated)>Reference of a String</String (interpolated)><Operator>"</Operator><Normal Text>;</Normal Text><br/>
+<Normal Text></Normal Text><br/>
+<Comment># Variables that start with underscore (bug #355300)</Comment><br/>
+<Data Type>$_variable</Data Type><br/>
+<Special Variable>$_</Special Variable><Normal Text> </Normal Text><Comment># Reserved var.</Comment><br/>
+<Normal Text></Normal Text><br/>
+<Keyword>for</Keyword><Normal Text> </Normal Text><Keyword>my</Keyword><Normal Text> </Normal Text><Data Type>$x</Data Type><Normal Text> (</Normal Text><Data Type>$hash</Data Type><Normal Text>->{arr}-></Normal Text><Data Type>@</Data Type><Operator>*</Operator><Normal Text>) {</Normal Text><br/>
+<Normal Text>    </Normal Text><Keyword>for</Keyword><Normal Text> </Normal Text><Keyword>my</Keyword><Normal Text> </Normal Text><Data Type>$k</Data Type><Normal Text> (</Normal Text><Function>keys</Function><Normal Text> </Normal Text><Data Type>$k</Data Type><Normal Text>->%</Normal Text><Operator>*</Operator><Normal Text>) {</Normal Text><br/>
+<Normal Text>        ...</Normal Text><br/>
+<Normal Text>    }</Normal Text><br/>
+<Normal Text>}</Normal Text><br/>
diff --git a/data/syntax/perl.xml b/data/syntax/perl.xml
--- a/data/syntax/perl.xml
+++ b/data/syntax/perl.xml
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@
 
    Enhance tr/// and y/// support.
 -->
-<language name="Perl" version="6" kateversion="2.4" section="Scripts" extensions="*.pl;*.PL;*.pm;*.pl6;*.PL6;*.p6;*.pm6;" mimetype="application/x-perl;text/x-perl" priority="5" author="Anders Lund (anders@alweb.dk)" license="LGPLv2">
+<language name="Perl" version="7" kateversion="2.4" section="Scripts" extensions="*.pl;*.PL;*.pm;*.pl6;*.PL6;*.p6;*.pm6;" mimetype="application/x-perl;text/x-perl" priority="5" author="Anders Lund (anders@alweb.dk)" license="LGPLv2">
   <highlighting>
     <list name="keywords">
       <item>if</item>
@@ -358,13 +358,14 @@
         <RegExpr attribute="Decimal" String="\b\-?[1-9]([0-9]|_[0-9])*\b" context="slash_safe_escape"/>
         <Int attribute="Decimal" context="slash_safe_escape" />
 
-        <RegExpr attribute="Normal Text" context="#stay" String="\\([&quot;'])[^\1]" />
+        <!-- Allow strings as scalar references (ex: \'string') (see bug #348765). -->
+        <!-- <RegExpr attribute="Normal Text" context="#stay" String="\\([&quot;'])[^\1]" /> -->
         <Detect2Chars attribute="Normal Text" context="#stay" char="&amp;" char1="'" /><!-- ??? -->
         <DetectChar attribute="Operator" context="ip_string" char="&quot;" beginRegion="String" />
         <DetectChar attribute="Operator" context="string" char="'"  beginRegion="String"/>
         <DetectChar attribute="Operator" context="Backticked" char="`" />
 
-        <RegExpr attribute="Normal Text" context="find_variable" String="(?:[$@]\S|%[\w{]|\*[^\d\*{\$@%=(])" lookAhead="true" />
+        <RegExpr attribute="Normal Text" context="find_variable" String="(?:[$@]\S|%([\w\{\+\-!]|\^H)|\*[^\d\*{\$@%=(])" lookAhead="true" />
 
         <RegExpr attribute="Keyword" context="#stay" String="&lt;[A-Z0-9_]+&gt;" />
 
@@ -423,9 +424,17 @@
       <!-- ====== Contexts for strings ===== -->
       <context name="ipstring_internal" attribute="String (interpolated)" lineEndContext="#stay">
         <DetectIdentifier />
-        <RegExpr attribute="String Special Character" context="#stay" String="\\[UuLlEtnaefr]" />
+        <RegExpr attribute="String Special Character" context="#stay" String="\\c[^\s\\]" />
+        <RegExpr attribute="String Special Character" context="#stay" String="\\g(\{(\w+|\-\d+)\}|\d+)" />
+        <RegExpr attribute="String Special Character" context="#stay" String="\\k(\{\w+\}|&lt;\w+&gt;|'\w+')" />
+        <RegExpr attribute="String Special Character" context="#stay" String="\\N\{[^\{\}]*\}" />
+        <RegExpr attribute="String Special Character" context="#stay" String="\\o\{[0-7]+\}" />
+        <RegExpr attribute="String Special Character" context="#stay" String="\\[pP](\{\w+\}|P)" />
+        <RegExpr attribute="String Special Character" context="#stay" String="\\x([0-9a-fA-F]{2}|\{[0-9a-fA-F]+\})" />
+        <RegExpr attribute="String Special Character" context="#stay" String="\\[0-7]{3}" />
+        <RegExpr attribute="String Special Character" context="#stay" String="\\[1aAbBdDeEfFGhHKlLnNQrRsStuUvVwWXzZ]" />
         <RegExpr attribute="String (interpolated)" context="#stay" String="\\." />
-        <RegExpr attribute="Normal Text" context="find_variable_unsafe" String="(?:[\$@]\S|%[\w{])" lookAhead="true" />
+        <RegExpr attribute="Normal Text" context="find_variable_unsafe" String="(?:[\$@]\S|%([\w\{\-\+!]|\^H))" lookAhead="true" />
       </context>
       <context name="ip_string" attribute="String (interpolated)" lineEndContext="#stay">
         <DetectChar attribute="Operator" context="#pop" char="&quot;" endRegion="String"/>
@@ -517,6 +526,8 @@
         <RegExpr attribute="Comment" context="#stay" String="\s+#.*$" />
         <IncludeRules context="regex_pattern_internal_ip" />
         <DetectChar attribute="Operator" context="subst_curlybrace_middle" char="}" endRegion="Pattern" />
+        <!-- Recursive brackets. Avoid closing brackets incorrectly (bug #364866). -->
+        <DetectChar attribute="Pattern" context="subst_curlybrace_pattern_recursive" char="{" />
       </context>
       <context name="subst_curlybrace_middle" attribute="Normal Text" lineEndContext="#stay" >
         <RegExpr attribute="Comment" context="#stay" String="#.*$" />
@@ -532,17 +543,27 @@
         <DetectChar attribute="Normal Text" context="#pop" char="}" endRegion="Block" />
         <IncludeRules context="ipstring_internal" />
       </context>
+      <context name="subst_curlybrace_pattern_recursive" attribute="Pattern" lineEndContext="#stay">
+        <DetectChar attribute="Pattern" context="#pop" char="}" />
+        <IncludeRules context="subst_curlybrace_pattern" />
+      </context>
 
       <context name="subst_paren_pattern" attribute="Pattern" lineEndContext="#stay">
         <RegExpr attribute="Comment" context="#stay" String="\s+#.*$" />
+        <DetectChar attribute="Operator" context="subst_paren_replace" char=")" endRegion="Pattern" />
+        <!-- Round brackets of RegExp pattern inside -->
+        <DetectChar attribute="Pattern Internal Operator" context="subst_paren_pattern_internal_recursive" char="(" />
         <IncludeRules context="regex_pattern_internal_ip" />
-        <DetectChar attribute="Operator" context="subst_paren_replace" char="}" endRegion="Pattern" />
       </context>
       <context name="subst_paren_replace" attribute="String (interpolated)" lineEndContext="#stay">
         <IncludeRules context="ipstring_internal" />
         <DetectChar attribute="Operator" context="#stay" char="(" beginRegion="Replacement" />
         <RegExpr attribute="Operator" context="#pop#pop#pop" String="\)[cegimosx]*" endRegion="Replacement" />
       </context>
+      <context name="subst_paren_pattern_internal_recursive" attribute="Pattern" lineEndContext="#stay">
+        <DetectChar attribute="Pattern Internal Operator" context="#pop" char=")" />
+        <IncludeRules context="subst_paren_pattern" />
+      </context>
 
       <context name="subst_bracket_pattern" attribute="Pattern" lineEndContext="#stay">
         <RegExpr attribute="Comment" context="#stay" String="\s+#.*$" />
@@ -605,25 +626,44 @@
       <context name="pattern_brace" attribute="Pattern" lineEndContext="#stay">
         <RegExpr attribute="Operator" context="#pop#pop" String="\}[cgimosx]*" endRegion="Pattern" />
         <IncludeRules context="regex_pattern_internal_ip" />
+        <!-- Recursive brackets. Avoid closing brackets incorrectly. -->
+        <DetectChar attribute="Pattern" context="pattern_brace_recursive" char="{" />
+      </context>
+      <context name="pattern_brace_recursive" attribute="Pattern" lineEndContext="#stay">
+        <DetectChar attribute="Pattern" context="#pop" char="}" />
+        <IncludeRules context="pattern_brace" />
       </context>
       <context name="pattern_bracket" attribute="Pattern" lineEndContext="#stay">
         <RegExpr attribute="Operator" context="#pop#pop" String="\][cgimosx]*" endRegion="Pattern" />
         <IncludeRules context="regex_pattern_internal_ip" />
       </context>
       <context name="pattern_paren" attribute="Pattern" lineEndContext="#stay">
         <RegExpr attribute="Operator" context="#pop#pop" String="\)[cgimosx]*" endRegion="Pattern" />
+        <!-- Round brackets of RegExp pattern inside -->
+        <DetectChar attribute="Pattern Internal Operator" context="pattern_paren_internal_recursive" char="(" />
         <IncludeRules context="regex_pattern_internal_ip" />
       </context>
+      <context name="pattern_paren_internal_recursive" attribute="Pattern" lineEndContext="#stay">
+        <DetectChar attribute="Pattern Internal Operator" context="#pop" char=")" />
+        <IncludeRules context="pattern_paren" />
+      </context>
       <context name="pattern_sq" attribute="Pattern" lineEndContext="#stay">
         <RegExpr attribute="Operator" context="#pop#pop" String="'[cgimosx]*" endRegion="Pattern" />
         <IncludeRules context="regex_pattern_internal" />
       </context>
 
       <!-- rules internal stuff wrt regex patterns -->
       <context name="regex_pattern_internal_rules_1" attribute="Pattern" lineEndContext="#stay">
         <RegExpr attribute="Comment" context="#stay" String="#.*$" firstNonSpace="true" />
+        <RegExpr attribute="Special Variable" context="#stay" String="\\c[^\s\\]" />
+        <RegExpr attribute="Special Variable" context="#stay" String="\\g(\{(\w+|\-\d+)\}|\d+)" />
+        <RegExpr attribute="Special Variable" context="#stay" String="\\k(\{\w+\}|&lt;\w+&gt;|'\w+')" />
+        <RegExpr attribute="Special Variable" context="#stay" String="\\N\{[^\{\}]*\}" />
+        <RegExpr attribute="Special Variable" context="#stay" String="\\o\{[0-7]+\}" />
+        <RegExpr attribute="Special Variable" context="#stay" String="\\[pP](\{\w+\}|P)" />
+        <RegExpr attribute="Special Variable" context="#stay" String="\\x([0-9a-fA-F]{2}|\{[0-9a-fA-F]+\})" />
         <RegExpr attribute="Pattern Character Class" context="#stay" String="\\[anDdSsWw]" />
-        <RegExpr attribute="Pattern Internal Operator" context="#stay" String="\\[ABbEGLlNUuQdQZz]" />
+        <RegExpr attribute="Pattern Internal Operator" context="#stay" String="\\[ABbEGLlNUuQdQZz]" /> <!-- Also?: efFhHKrRtvVX -->
         <RegExpr attribute="Special Variable" context="#stay" String="\\[\d]+" />
         <RegExpr attribute="Pattern" context="#stay" String="\\." />
       </context>
@@ -664,31 +704,36 @@
 
       <!-- ====== Variables ====== -->
       <context name="find_variable" attribute="Data Type" lineEndContext="#pop" fallthrough="true" fallthroughContext="#pop" >
+        <RegExpr attribute="Data Type" context="var_detect" String="\$[#_][\w_]" />
         <RegExpr attribute="Special Variable" context="var_detect" String="\$[0-9]+" />
         <RegExpr attribute="Special Variable" context="var_detect" String="[@\$](?:[\+\-_]\B|ARGV\b|INC\b)" />
         <RegExpr attribute="Special Variable" context="var_detect" String="[%\$](?:INC\b|ENV\b|SIG\b)" />
+        <RegExpr attribute="Special Variable" context="var_detect" String="\$\^[A-Z_\]\[\^\?\\]" />
+        <RegExpr attribute="Special Variable" context="var_detect" String="%([\-\+!]|\^H)" />
         <RegExpr attribute="Data Type" context="var_detect" String="\$\$[\$\w_]" />
-        <RegExpr attribute="Data Type" context="var_detect" String="\$[#_][\w_]" />
         <RegExpr attribute="Data Type" context="var_detect" String="\$+::" />
         <RegExpr attribute="Special Variable" context="var_detect" String="\$[^a-zA-Z0-9\s{][A-Z]?" />
-        <RegExpr attribute="Data Type" context="var_detect" String="[\$@%]\{[\w_]+\}" />
+        <RegExpr attribute="Data Type" context="var_detect" String="[\$@%]\{\^?[\w_]+\}" />
         <AnyChar attribute="Data Type" context="var_detect" String="$@%" />
         <RegExpr attribute="Data Type" context="var_detect" String="\*[a-zA-Z_]+" />
-        <RegExpr attribute="Special Variable" context="#stay" String="\*[^a-zA-Z0-9\s{][A-Z]?" />
+        <!-- Do not highlight brackets after *, Ex: (... @*) (see bug #391577) -->
+        <RegExpr attribute="Special Variable" context="#stay" String="\*[^a-zA-Z0-9\s\{\(\)\[\]\}][A-Z]?" />
         <!-- this should be a rare case! -->
         <AnyChar attribute="Operator" context="#pop" String="$@%*" />
       </context>
       <!-- This does not check fo a trailing slash, for usage in strings. -->
       <context name="find_variable_unsafe" attribute="Data Type" lineEndContext="#pop" fallthrough="true" fallthroughContext="#pop" >
+        <RegExpr attribute="Data Type" context="var_detect_unsafe" String="\$[#_][\w_]" />
         <RegExpr attribute="Special Variable" context="var_detect_unsafe" String="\$[0-9]+" />
         <RegExpr attribute="Special Variable" context="var_detect_unsafe" String="[@\$](?:[\+\-_]\B|ARGV\b|INC\b)" />
         <RegExpr attribute="Special Variable" context="var_detect_unsafe" String="[%\$](?:INC\b|ENV\b|SIG\b)" />
+        <RegExpr attribute="Special Variable" context="var_detect" String="\$\^[A-Z_\]\[\^\?\\]" />
+        <RegExpr attribute="Special Variable" context="var_detect" String="%([\-\+!]|\^H)" />
         <RegExpr attribute="Data Type" context="var_detect_unsafe" String="\$\$[\$\w_]" />
-        <RegExpr attribute="Data Type" context="var_detect_unsafe" String="\$[#_][\w_]" />
         <RegExpr attribute="Data Type" context="var_detect_unsafe" String="\$+::" />
         <RegExpr attribute="Special Variable" context="#stay" String="\$[^a-zA-Z0-9\s{][A-Z]?" />
-        <RegExpr attribute="Data Type" context="var_detect_unsafe" String="[\$@%]\{[\w_]+\}" />
-        <RegExpr attribute="Data Type" context="var_detect_unsafe" String="[\$@%]" /><!-- AnyChar! -->
+        <RegExpr attribute="Data Type" context="var_detect_unsafe" String="[\$@%]\{\^?[\w_]+\}" />
+        <AnyChar attribute="Data Type" context="var_detect_unsafe" String="$@%" />
         <RegExpr attribute="Data Type" context="var_detect_unsafe" String="\*\w+" />
         <AnyChar attribute="Operator" context="#pop" String="$@%*" />
       </context>