It was used by the Time Lords in an initiation ceremony for children entering the Time Lord Academy. At the age of eight, young Gallifreyans would be taken to the Schism. When subjected to its terrifying effects the children would react differently — "Some would be inspired, some would run away, and some would go mad." The Doctor and the Master agreed that the experience was painful. (TV: The End of Time) It was claimed prolonged exposure to the Schism over billions of years gave Time Lords their ability to regenerate and indeed was the primary factor in their evolution. (TV: A Good Man Goes to War)