TITLE: Subgroups of Mod(S) generated by Dehn twists depend only on intersection numbers?
QUESTION [5 upvotes]: $\DeclareMathOperator\Mod{Mod}$Let $S$ be a closed surface and $\Mod(S)$ be its mapping class group.
It is a well known fact, proved in the Primer on Mapping class groups for example, that the subgroup of $\Mod(S)$ generated by two Dehn twists $T_a$ and $T_b$ depends only on the geometric intersection number $i(a,b)$.
Indeed, if $i(a,b) \geq 2$ a ping pong lemma argument on the curve graph shows that $\langle T_a, T_b \rangle$ is a free group. Also, if $i(a,b) = 0$, then $\langle T_a, T_b \rangle$ is clearly free abelian.
Lastly, if $i(a,b) = 1$, it can be shown that $\langle T_a, T_b \rangle$ is a braid group on 3 strands, unless $S$ is a torus.
I am wondering whether such a statement can be proven in general, even without knowing a full classification of the groups that can appear. More precisely, if $\{a_1, \cdots, a_n\}$ and $\{b_1, \cdots, b_n\}$ are two collections of curves such that $i(a_i,a_j) = i(b_i,b_j)$ for all $i,j$, is it true that $\langle T_{a_1}, \cdots, T_{a_n} \rangle \simeq \langle T_{b_1}, \cdots, T_{b_n} \rangle$ as subgroups of $\Mod(S)$?.
It seems that the group $\langle T_{a_1}, \cdots, T_{a_n} \rangle$ depends only on a regular neighborhood  $N_a$ of the curves $a_i$, which is then homeomorphic to any regular neighborhood $N_b$ of the curves $b_i$. But in general the injection $i \colon N_a \to S$ does not induce an injective map on the mapping class group levels, so this does not seem to give a proper argument.
Any help is greatly appreciated!

REPLY [6 votes]: This is not true and I don't see the "right" side-conditions to make it true. Here is an example.
Suppose that $a_1, a_2, a_3$ all lie in a single handle (surface of genus one, with one boundary component). and all meet exactly once, pairwise.  Then the twist about $a_3$ lies in the group generated by the others, giving the usual three-strand braid group.
Suppose that $b_1, b_2, b_3$ all meet exactly once, pairwise.  Let $N$ be a regular neighbourhood of their union.  Assume that $N$ has genus one and three boundary components.  Assume that all boundary components are essential in the ambient surface $S$.  Then the group generated is some Artin group with three generators.