System and method for treating intractable epilepsy are provided. The method includes implanting electrodes in pedunculopontine nucleus and delivering electrical pulses to the pedunculopontine nucleus, thereby inducing the stimulation of cholinergic neurons leading to the release of acetylcholine, thereby enhancing the genesis of rapid eye movement sleep, which reduces the occurrence of epileptic attacks and also chronically suppresses the epileptogenic process.
