A method for opening an upper airway of a patient by applying electrical stimulation to the patient's hypoglossal nerve includes positioning of an electrode into electrical contact with a selected portion of the patient's hypoglossal nerve, applying a stimulating electrical current from the electrode to the hypoglossal nerve and intraoperatively verifying the position of the electrode or adjusting the position of the electrode until it can be seen that the correct muscles of the upper airway are being stimulated. In particular, in an intraoperative setting it is possible to determine whether the correct muscles are being stimulated by looking for forward and contralateral extension of the patient's tongue or an increase in volume of the patient's oropharynx.