A thalamic medical device system enables automated detection of epileptic seizures and optionally providing contingent thalamic stimulation triggered by automated seizure detection. The thalamic medical device system includes an implantable medical device connected to an electrode assembly and a lead. The electrode assembly has at least one electrode surgically implanted into an anterior thalamic nuclei or a centro-median thalamic nuclei of a brain. The implanted medical device is configured to detect electrical signals and analyze detected electrical signals using a seizure detection algorithm, and further configured to deliver electrical stimulation to the anterior thalamic nuclei or centro-median thalamic nuclei via the electrode assembly when a seizure is detected.
