Final answer:
When cortisol levels increase, ACTH secretion is usually reduced due to a negative feedback mechanism to maintain hormonal balance.
Step-by-step explanation:
Under normal conditions, if the amount of secreted cortisol increases, then the amount of secreted ACTH will likely decrease. Cortisol is a glucocorticoid hormone that is regulated by adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) from the anterior pituitary gland, and this regulation involves a negative feedback mechanism. In this process, elevated cortisol levels signal the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland to reduce the secretion of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and ACTH, respectively, to prevent further increase in cortisol.