No, it doesn't see them, the IR receiver IC demodulates the bursts and outputs a simple pulsed signal, representing the original pulses (but not identical to them).
Read the datasheet of a TSOP1738 receiver IC.
They have an automatic gain control that reduces gain if the 38kHz is continuous because then it might be interference from a compact fluorescent light bulb. The IC expects data which is in bursts of 38kHz pulses. The bursts must be 10 cycles of 38kHz or longer. After each burst which is between 10 cycles and 70 cycles a gap time of at least 14 cycles is necessary. For each burst which is longer than 1.8ms a corresponding gap time is nexessary at some time in the data stream. The gap time should have at least the same length as the burst.
The TSOP1138 requires fewer cycles of 38kHz during each burst because it can operate at a higher data rate.